In tonight's debate, Kerry needs to have a witty retort to Bush's chicken little mantra, "But...but...9-11 changed everything!"
I have a suggestion, and I'm wondering if we can refine this with some effort. It's late in coming, and it may have already been discussed (I couldn't find it), but it would be useful in the post-debate debate as well.
Bush: Look, I mean what I say, when I say that I mean it and 9-11 changed everything!!!
Kerry: Yes, when it came to how our government responded to the threat of global terrorism, 9-11 should have changed everything, but it didn't.
Before 9-11, your administration had a plan to invade Iraq. After 9-11, after we were attacked by 19 killers, none of which had anything to do with Iraq, you invaded Iraq.
Before 9-11, Bin Laden and the Taliban controlled vast swaths of Afghanistan, established terrorist training camps, and exported enormous amounts of opium, fueling drug addiction worldwide while funding these terrorist activities. After 9-11, and after you pulled valuable resources out of Afghanistan, warlords and renegades are back at the reigns, opium trade is once again at an all-time high, chaos is one homicide bomber away from spreading throughout the country.
Before 9-11, your administration, steeped in a Cold War mindset, refused to acknowledge the folly in continued financial support for an outdated, non-functional Missle Defense System. After 9-11, when we had been attacked by 19 men with box cutters, you continue to push for funding for these very same systems. Is that why you let North Korea and Iran - two members of your 'Axis of Evil' - march forward on the path to building a nuclear arsenal?
Before 9-11, our ports were wide open, with unfettered access into our country, allowing for any number of dangerous attack scenarios. After 9-11, our ports still have a 'Terrorists Welcome' sign hung high and lit brightly.
On and on....
P.S. Be gentle! This is my first entry.
