British terror threat may not be over
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-08-12 13:45
CRAWFORD, Texas - U.S. President George W. Bush cautioned on Saturday the
threat from a plot to detonate liquid explosives on commercial flights may not
have passed and denied Democratic charges he was trying to use the crisis for
political gains in an election year.
"We believe that this week's
arrests have significantly disrupted the threat," Bush said in his weekly radio
address. "Yet we cannot be sure that the threat has been eliminated."
British authorities arrested two dozen suspects on Thursday for
allegedly plotting to use liquid explosives to blow up airliners flying from
Britain to the United States.
The arrests prompted the United States to
raise its terror alert to the highest level ever and prompted airports to ban
passengers from taking liquids, gels and creams on planes.
Bush, who
returns to Washington on Sunday after a 10-day working vacation at his ranch,
urged air travelers to be patient with the stricter security measures.
"The inconveniences you will face are for your protection and they will
give us time to adjust our screening procedures to meet the current threat," he
said.
Democrats on Friday accused Vice President Dick Cheney of trying
to use this week's arrests in Britain to Republican advantage in November
congressional elections, which will determine whether Democrats or Republicans
control the U.S. Congress.
'AL QAEDA TYPES'
Cheney said on Wednesday the Democrats' defeat of Connecticut Democratic
Sen. Joe Lieberman in the state's primary on Tuesday because of his support of
the Iraq war could embolden "al Qaeda types."
Senate Democratic leader
Harry Reid of Nevada said in a statement on Friday: "Once again, GOP
(Republican) leaders are using terrorism and our national security as a
political wedge issue. It is disgusting -- but not surprising."
Bush
said the suspected plot in Britain "reminds us of a hard fact: The terrorists
have to succeed only once to achieve their goal of mass murder, while we have to
succeed every time to stop them."
"Unfortunately, some have suggested
recently that the terrorist threat is being used for partisan political
advantage. We can have legitimate disagreements about the best way to fight the
terrorists, yet there should be no disagreement about the dangers we face," he
said.
Democrats in their weekly radio address charged Bush has
shortchanged domestic security needs and the war on terror, and they blamed him
for bungling the Iraq war.
Sen. Mark Pryor of Arkansas said the
administration's "poor management" in Iraq "has created a rallying cry for
international terrorists" and "diverted our focus, our military and more than
$300 billion from the war on terrorism."
Pryor said U.S. ports, borders
and chemical plants remain unsecured, emergency personnel lack critical
resources and the military, including the National Guard, was stretched.
"It's time for Washington to be tough and smart about the threats we
face," he said. "Americans deserve real security, not just leaders who talk
tough but fail to deliver."
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