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Analysis: Al Gore Speaks Out Against Mr. Bush's Pre-Emptive Policy on Iraq
All Things Considered: September 23, 2002
 Gore - Iraq
JOHN YDSTIE, host:
Today Al Gore harshly criticized President Bush's push for war against Iraq. In his first major speech on Iraq, the former Democratic president candidate said the Bush administration has embarked on a dangerous course.
Former Vice President AL GORE: I am deeply concerned that the course of action that we are presently embarking upon with respect to Iraq has the potential to seriously damage our ability to win the war against terrorism and to weaken our ability to lead the world in this new century.
YDSTIE: Al Gore speaking today at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco.
ROBERT SIEGEL, host:
Political writer Carla Marinucci of the San Francisco Chronicle was at the Commonwealth Club today and joins us.
It sounds as though Vice President Gore has drawn a line and taken a very strong stand against President Bush on Iraq.
Ms. CARLA MARINUCCI (Political Writer, San Francisco Chronicle): Yes, Robert. Vice President Gore delivered probably what was one of the most forceful Democratic denunciations today of President Bush's policy of pre-emptive action in Iraq. His speech delivered point by point his argument as to why the United States, first, needs to look very seriously at any kind of implementation of war in Iraq, and then we need to look at the implications for generations of Americans, he said, should America pursue with policy of a pre-emptive action in Iraq.
SIEGEL: What was the sense of this speech? Did you think you were hearing somebody who is about to announce that he's running for president in 2004?
Ms. MARINUCCI: Well, in fact, he was asked that question. He said it was not a campaign speech. He was asked whether he was making a departure from other Democrats in being so forceful. He said he didn't really care. This is what he believes. But he was greeted by an enthusiastic, if not adoring crowd. This is San Francisco, one of the most Democratic cities. He was greeted with an impromptu chorus of "Hail to the Chief" when he walked in, and several cries of, you know, `Why aren't you in the White House? What's he doing there?' And Gore waved them off and said, `Oh, come on.' But he was asked at one point, you know, `If you were president, how would you have handled this situation.' And several in the audience yelled out, `He was elected president.' And it went on like that.
SIEGEL: Now was Gore's line throughout this that the way the war against terrorism is being managed is right and he's on board with that; it's Iraq that is the distraction? Or was he critical as well of the campaign against al-Qaeda and the Taliban?
Ms. MARINUCCI: He said that that should be our primary focus and he still said Bush, in fact, in Afghanistan has let the ball drop. But then his criticism of the president's pre-emptive policy in Iraq is really where the heart of his whole speech was. He said that we need to look at the relationship in Iraq. We need to, first of all, establish a coalition. `We cannot go this alone. And if we do, American taxpayers will be asked to shoulder hundreds of billions of dollars in costs on this.' He was very, very tough on Bush on a number of issues and said that this policy, if it is continued, could result in a string of military engagements against other countries and that that is something that the American people and Congress have to consider.
SIEGEL: Carla Marinucci, thank you very much for talking with us.
Ms. MARINUCCI: Thank you, Robert.
SIEGEL: Political writer Carla Marinucci of the San Francisco Chronicle.
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