Patrick Buchanan welcomes President Bush's decision to "take off the gloves" in their Republican presidential campaign and is attacking one of the president's strongest points - Desert Storm.
Buchanan, the conservative commentator whose 37 percent showing cut deeply into Bush's victory margin in the New Hampshire primary Tuesday, mentioned Thursday a published report that Bush had a political television spot extolling his leadership in the Persian Gulf war but did not use it.Buchanan, who opposed entry into the war, said he heard Bush did not want to make it an issue so, "Let's make it an issue right here."
Addressing a friendly audience at the 19th meeting of the Conservative Political Action Conference, Buchanan said "as commander in chief George Bush was excellent."
But then he ticked off a list of areas where he said Bush failed in Desert Storm.
He said that there is no democracy in Kuwait; the United States is becoming involved in more entanglements in the Middle East; while the U.S. defenses are being made smaller, Iran is building up its military; Muslim fundamentalism is on the rise because of America's involvement in the area; Bush is "pussy-footing" with tyrants like Syrian ruler Hafez Assad and the Iraqi people are starving.
"Yet Saddam Hussein still sits on his throne," Buchanan said.
Bush's leadership during the war with Iraq is generally considered one of the president's strongest points, but Buchanan, who said he supported the action once shooting started, said the results showed "that Bush has not thought this through."
During the New Hampshire campaign, Bush tried to keep from attacking Buchanan and would not mention his opponent by name.
After barely getting half the vote, Bush Wednesday said he might have to change tactics and "roll up my sleeves." He even mentioned Buchanan, if only his first name "Pat."