Former US vice-president Mr Al Gore has claimed Mr George W. Bush's push for war against Iraq has hurt the United States's standing and could dangerously undermine the rule of law around the world.
"After September 11, we had enormous sympathy, goodwill and support around the world," Mr Gore said. "We've squandered that, and in one year we've replaced that with fear, anxiety and uncertainty, not at what the terrorists are going to do, but at what we are going to do".
In his first major speech on the Iraq situation, the former Democratic presidential candidate accused Mr Bush of abandoning the goal of a world where nations followed laws.
"That concept would be displaced by the notion that there is no law but the discretion of the president of the United States," he said.
"If other nations assert the same right, then the rule of law will quickly be replaced by the reign of fear," and any nation that perceives itself threatened would feel justified in starting wars, he said.
Mr Gore also told an enthusiastic Commonwealth Club crowd he would decide in December whether to challenge Mr Bush again for the presidency in 2004.
Republicans quickly pounced on the speech as evidence of Mr Gore's weakness. "It seemed to be a speech more appropriate for a political hack than a presidential candidate by someone who clearly fails to recognise leadership," said Mr Jim Dyke, a Republican National Committee spokesman.
Mr Gore always has supported overthrowing Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and was one of the few Senate Democrats who voted in favour of the Gulf War resolution after Iraq attacked Kuwait. He said he felt betrayed by the first President George Bush's "hasty withdrawal from the battlefield".
AP