WASHINGTON, Iowa - Republican Mitt Romney said yesterday that it's fortunate that Democrat Barack Obama isn't president, contending that the Illinois senator would have pulled US troops out of Iraq and left the country a haven for Al Qaeda.
Romney acknowledged the war has drawn extremists into Iraq. But he told a packed coffeehouse in this tiny southeastern Iowa town: "The key for me is making sure we do not have Iraq develop into a safe haven of the nature Afghanistan was under the Taliban. If we were to do what Barack Obama had suggested, which is just pull out, now that Al Qaeda is there, Al Qaeda would have had a dominant role potentially among the Sunnis in particular, and that would have made Afghanistan look like child's play as a place to launch attacks against us."
In response, Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said: "If Barack Obama were president, we would never have gone into Iraq in the first place. We would've gone after Osama bin Laden, finished the job in Afghanistan, and made America a lot safer than it is after seven years of a divisive, failed foreign policy that Mitt Romney apparently wants to continue."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Edwards unveils food plan
On the eve of Thanksgiving, John Edwards outlined a plan to fight hunger in America and share the nation's bounty.
"This is an issue we can do something about. We have a moral responsibility as a country," he said in a conference call with reporters.
Edwards cited a report released last week estimating more than 35.5 million Americans, including 13 million children, went hungry during last year.
His plan includes a farm bill with strong nutrition programs; proposals to expand food stamps and other aid for poor families and seniors; an expansion of school breakfast, subsidized lunch, after-school, and summer food programs; help for families facing high home heating costs; and a public-private partnership to bring fresh fruits and vegetables and promote healthy foods in every neighborhood.
FOON RHEE
Strike could harm debate
NEW YORK - A potential strike by CBS news writers imperils the last scheduled debate among Democratic presidential contenders before voting is to begin.
In a statement yesterday, Hillary Clinton said she would not cross a picket line to participate in the debate, scheduled Dec. 10 in Los Angeles and the last forum before the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3. Most of the other candidates quickly followed.
CBS is to broadcast the debate, which is co-sponsored by the Democratic National Committee.
Edwards, on a conference call with reporters, said he would not cross the picket line in the event of a strike. Spokesmen for Barack Obama, Bill Richardson, and Chris Dodd said they would not either.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thompson explains image
AMES, Iowa - Fred Thompson says his often-dour demeanor simply reflects his seriousness about the issues the country faces.
Thompson, who played a tough-minded and gruff district attorney on television's "Law & Order," offers precisely that image as he campaigns for the GOP presidential nomination. He's generally serious and direct, with little of the backslapping and joking of many of his rivals.
"I laugh when I am amused, and I'm amused a lot," Thompson said. "When I'm talking about terrorism, when I'm talking about bankrupting the next generation, when I talk about what is going on in Washington, I am not amused."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
