Second Presidential Debate -- Question Seven
Washington University in St. Louis - St. Louis, MO -
October 8, 2004
Intro
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Kerry
Bush


 
GIBSON: The next question, Senator Kerry, is for you, and it comes from Ann Bronsing, who I believe is over in this area.


BRONSING: Senator Kerry, we have been fortunate that there have been no further terrorist attacks on American soil since 9/11. Why do you think this is?  And if elected, what will you do to assure our safety?

KERRY: Thank you very much, Ann.

I've asked in my security briefings why that is, and I can't go into all the answers, et cetera, but let me say this to you.

This president and his administration have told you and all of us it's not a question of when, it's a question of -- excuse me -- not a question of if, it's a question of when.  We've been told that.

The when I can't tell you.  Between the World Trade Center bombing in, what was it, 1993 or so, and the next time was five years, seven years.  These people wait.  They'll plan.  They plot.

I agree with the president that we have to go after them and get them wherever they are.  I just think I can do that far more effectively, because the most important weapon in doing that is intelligence.  You've got to have the best intelligence in the world.

And in order to have the best intelligence in the world to know who the terrorists are and where they are and what they're plotting, you've got to have the best cooperation you've ever had in the world.

Now, to go back to your question, Nikki, we're not getting the best cooperation in the world today.  We've got a whole bunch of countries that pay a price for dealing with the United States of America now.  I'm going to change that.

And I'm going to put in place a better homeland security effort.

Look, 95 percent of our containers coming into this country are not inspected today.  When you get on an airplane, your bag is X- rayed, but the cargo hold isn't X-rayed.  Do you feel safer?

This president in the last debate said, "Well, that would be a big tax gap if we did that."

Ladies and gentlemen, it's his tax plan.  He chose a tax cut for the wealthiest Americans over getting that equipment out into the homeland as fast as possible.

We have bridges and tunnels that aren't being secured, chemical plants, nuclear plants that aren't secured, hospitals that are overcrowded with their emergency rooms.

If we had a disaster today, could they handle it?

This president chose a tax cut over homeland security.  Wrong choice.

GIBSON: Mr. President?

BUSH: That's an odd thing to say, since we've tripled the homeland security budget from $10 billion to $30 billion.

Listen, we'll do everything we can to protect the homeland.

My opponent's right, we need good intelligence.  It's also a curious thing for him to say since right after 1993 he voted to cut the intelligence budget by $7.5 billion.

The best way to defend America in this world we live in is to stay on the offense.  We got to be right 100 percent of the time here at home, and they got to be right once.  And that's the reality.

And there's a lot of good people working hard.  We're doing the best we possibly can to share information.  That's why the Patriot Act was important.

The Patriot Act is vital, by the way.  It's a tool that law enforcement now uses to be able to talk between each other.  My opponent says he hadn't changed his position on it.  No, but he's for weakening it.

I don't think my opponent has got the right view about the world to make us safe; I really don't.

First of all, I don't think he can succeed in Iraq.  And if Iraq were to fail, it'd be a haven for terrorists, and there would be money and the world would be much more dangerous.

I don't see how you can win in Iraq if you don't believe we should be there in the first place.  I don't see how you can lead troops if you say it's the wrong war at the wrong place at the wrong time.

I don't see how the Iraqis are going to have confidence in the American president if all they hear is that it was a mistake to be there in the first place.

This war is a long, long war, and it requires steadfast determination and it requires a complete understanding that we not only chase down Al Qaida but we disrupt terrorist safe havens as well as people who could provide the terrorists with support.

GIBSON: I want to extend for a minute, Senator.  And I'm curious about something you said.  You said, "It's not when, but if."  You think it's inevitable because the sense of security is a very basic thing with everybody in this country worried about their kids.


KERRY: Well, the president and his experts have told America that it's not a question of if; it's a question of when.  And I accept what the president has said.  These terrorists are serious, they're deadly, and they know nothing except trying to kill.

I understand that.  That's why I will never stop at anything to hunt down and kill the terrorists.

But you heard the president just say to you that we've added money.

Folks, the test is not if you've added money; the test is that you've done everything possible to make America secure.  He chose a tax cut for wealthy Americans over the things that I listed to you.

GIBSON: Mr. President?

BUSH: Well, we'll talk about the tax cut for middle class here in a minute.  But yes, I'm worried. I'm worried.  I'm worried about our country.  And all I can tell you is every day I know that there's people working overtime, doing the very best they can.  And the reason I'm worried is because there's a vicious enemy that has an ideology of hate.

And the way to defeat them long-term, by the way, is to spread freedom.

Liberty can change habits.  And that's what's happening in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Q8 >