Kerry Says Iraq Lies at 'Moment of Truth' [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

Kerry Says Iraq Lies at 'Moment of Truth'

Friday April 30, 2004 6:31 PM


By NEDRA PICKLER

Associated Press Writer

FULTON, Mo. (AP) - President Bush said Friday that progress has been made in stabilizing Iraq in the year since he declared an end to major combat, but his Democratic challenger insisted the United States has not succeeded in its mission and now faces a ``moment of truth'' in the conflict.

``This anniversary is not a time to shout. It is not a time for blame,'' presidential candidate John Kerry said in remarks prepared for Missouri's Westminster College. ``It is a time for a new direction in Iraq and for America to work together so that once again this nation leads in a way that brings the world to us and with us in our efforts.''

Bush landed aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln on May 1, 2003, to announce that major combat operations were over in Iraq after just six weeks of fighting. Critics repeatedly cited the declaration, made as a banner reading ``Mission Accomplished'' hung above the flight deck, after U.S. casualties continued to mount.

The president defended his speech on Friday, telling reporters in the Rose Garden of the White House that ``we're making progress, you bet'' and noting he had warned at the time that ``there was still difficult work ahead.''
(snip/...)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4039347,00.html