US:President George Bush assailed John Kerry this week for sending "mixed signals to the enemy" that questioned American resolve. Here are a few examples of recent "mixed signals" coming out of the US, writes Conor O'Clery.
Mr Bush's handling of the war has shown "incompetence". "Serious mistakes" have been made. US soldiers "are in deep trouble". Elections might not even be possible in a quarter of the territory of Iraq "because the violence was too great". And finally: US troops must be withdrawn from Iraq next year even if US goals have not been met.
Actually all these statements emanated from Republican sources in the past few days. It was Senator Richard Lugar who accused the Bush administration of "incompetence", Senator John McCain, who listed "serious mistakes" by US leaders, and Senator Chuck Hagel, who talked about decisions that have got "our boys in deep trouble".
And it was the Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, who said insurgents might succeed in preventing elections in part of Iraq.
"Let's say you tried to have an election and you could have it in three-quarters or four-fifths of the country, but some places you couldn't, because the violence was too great," he told a Senate committee. "Well, so be it, nothing's perfect in life."
And the troops-out impulse comes from Bush's own top aides, according to the well-connected conservative columnist Bob Novak (recipient of the famous White House leak identifying a CIA agent), who writes that within the Bush administration's policy-making apparatus there is a strong feeling that US troops must leave Iraq next year.
Officials are saying "Ready or not, here we go" even if democracy and stability have not been achieved, he writes, adding that sources say Condoleezza Rice, Paul Wolfowitz and Stephen Hadley would opt for a withdrawal.
***************************
Even John Kerry in his new anti-war fury has not advocated a pull-out of troops next year. But his criticisms of the war have led to accusations that he is giving aid and comfort to the enemy and undermining the war effort. Vice-
President Dick Cheney accused him of giving "every indication of a lack of resolve and conviction to prevail" in Iraq.
Cheney caused a storm when he said recently that if Bush was not re-elected, "then the danger is that we'll get hit again, that we'll be hit in a way that will be devastating" and that the United States would not respond vigorously.
The Washington Post listed several recent examples of the type of accusations from Republicans which it said have been a component of American politics in times like the McCarthy anti-communist hunt and the Vietnam War protests.
Senator Orrin Hatch said terrorists "are going to throw everything they can between now and the election to try and elect Kerry." The House Speaker, Dennis Hastert, said "That's my opinion, yes," when asked if he believed al-Qaeda would be more successful under a Kerry presidency.
The Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage, said terrorists in Iraq "are trying to influence the election against President Bush." Congressman Tom Cole said: "If George Bush loses the election, Osama bin Laden wins the election." And yesterday Mr Bush said of Kerry: "You cannot lead the war on terror if you wilt when times are tough."
********************
The Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist, said this week that he is planning to hold a vote soon on banning the "physical desecration" of the American flag before Congress adjourns next month. This has become an annual exercise since the Supreme Court ruled in 1989 that flag-burning was a form of free speech protected by the constitution.
The timing of the vote could prove embarrassing for Kerry and his running mate, John Edwards, which indeed may be its purpose. The two Democratic senators are opposed to the amendment.
Ironically no country is more guilty of the "physical desecration" of its flag by patriots than the United States. It is not only an advertising accessory for car showrooms and fast-food joints, it is painted on gold balls, displayed on sweat bands and emblazoned on beach towels. You can buy flag-imprinted Supergirl knickers and star-spangled Sniff tissues in US stores, and even order a Stars and Stripes doormat from cooking.com as a "symbol of hospitality".
The Federal Flag Code officially states that the flag should never be used for advertising or as apparel, but no one seems to object to blowing one's nose or wiping one's feet on it.
************************
John Kerry tried to shake off his aloof image on Monday by appearing on the The Late Show with David Letterman. He listed the top Bush tax proposals.
They included: "No estate tax for families with at least two US presidents"; "Under the simplified tax code, your refund cheque goes directly to Halliburton"; "Attorney General Ashcroft gets to write off the entire US Constitution"; "Eliminate all income taxes; just ask Teresa [Heinz Kerry] to cover the whole damn thing"; "Cheney can claim Bush as a dependent"; and "George W. Bush gets a deduction for mortgaging our entire future."
*******************
And finally, back to the who-said-what trivia quiz. Who made the following statement: "We know we can't count on the French. We know we can't count on the Russians. We know that Iraq is a danger to the United States, and we reserve the right to take pre-emptive action whenever we feel it's in our national interest."
Answer: John Kerry, according to a transcript of a CNN Crossfire transcript from 1997 dug up by Republican Congressman Peter King.