Putin Agrees – Terrorists Work for Kerry Victory

George C. Landrith

A few weeks after the Democratic Convention, I wrote an opinion-editorial article pointing out that international terrorists want President George W. Bush to lose and John Kerry to win the election on November 2nd. My reasoning was based on comparing what Kerry said he would do and what Bush has actually done to fight terrorism. In his carefully worded convention speech, Kerry promised America, “Any attack will be met with a swift and certain response.” In other words, Kerry will not preemptively fight terrorism. He will wait and react. Kerry may talk tougher now that polls say he must, but his core beliefs are revealed by his talk of responding to attacks rather than preventing and preempting them. In contrast, we know Bush will take the fight to the terrorists and weaken their ability to launch attacks here in America.

The last thing terrorists want is four more years of President Bush’s unyielding pounding. Thanks to Bush’s leadership and policies, al Qaeda terrorists have been pursued relentlessly – thousands driven, killed and captured as they hide in remote mountain caves. Al Qaeda’s leadership has been decimated. Their once robust network has been devastated. Hundreds of attacks have been disrupted before they could be carried out. It is not hard to understand why the terrorists hope Bush loses the election.

My article generated a lot of hate mail from Kerry supporters who told me I was dead wrong and questioned my intelligence. They provided scant support for their views – aside from their liberal use of profanity and name-calling. But they were clear that they believed terrorists would prefer Bush’s reelection. Apparently, they believe the terrorist’s greatest fear is that France may join the coalition in Iraq after a Kerry victory in November. At least with Bush’s reelection, the terrorists would not have to face the awesome wrath of France. So went their arguments.

Now we learn that Russian President Vladimir Putin says international terrorists are pushing hard to derail Bush's reelection. Putin explained, “International terrorism has as its goal to prevent the election of President Bush to a second term. If they achieve that goal, then that will give international terrorism a new impulse and extra power.”

Putin’s observations are so obviously correct, I am almost surprised his remarks received media coverage.

Yet, given that Bush and Kerry are in a tight election battle, America would do well to understand that terrorists, particularly those in Iraq, are working overtime to beat George W. Bush. America should take note that the terrorists take courage every time John Kerry attacks President Bush and our efforts in Iraq. The terrorists view Kerry as their temporary ally in defeating Bush. And who can blame them? The terrorist attacks in Iraq are designed to turn America against President Bush. Kerry collaborates with the terrorists every day when he uses the terrorist attacks in Iraq as a disgraceful wedge issue.

In the past, politics always stopped at the water’s edge when national security was on the line. Historically, true statesmen refused to promote their political ambition at the cost of our national security. Democratic Senator Zell Miller gave this as one of his great disappointments with his fellow Democrat John Kerry – that political ambitions are more important than the nation’s safety. Thus, Miller will cast his first ever vote for a Republican on November 2nd. Additionally, he chairs Democrats for Bush. But no one should confuse John Kerry with a statesman. Kerry has made a living rooting against America ever since he returned from Vietnam.

I fully expect the folks who sent me hate mail earlier this summer to send more. But this time they should also send at least a copy of their vitriolic and profane prose to Russian President Vladimir Putin who clearly stated that the terrorist’s goal is “to prevent the election of President Bush to a second term.” What a coincidence – that is John Kerry’s goal.

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Mr. Landrith is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was Business Editor of the Virginia Journal of Law and Politics. He had a successful law practice in business and litigation. In 1994 and 1996, Mr. Landrith was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's Fifth Congressional District. He served on the Albemarle County School Board. Mr. Landrith is an adjunct professor at the George Mason School of Law. He is recognized as an authority on constitutional law and jurisprudence, federalism, global warming, and property rights.

george@ff.org