Kerry suggested that Bush could have captured bin Laden. "We had him surrounded, but we didn't use American forces, the best-trained in the world, to go kill him," Kerry said. "The president relied on Afghan warlords that he outsourced that job to."
As he often does on the stump, Bush ridiculed Kerry's vote against a spending bill for Iraq and Afghanistan and the Democrat's explanation that he voted for it "before I voted against it." "That's not what a commander in chief does when you're trying to lead troops," Bush said.
Kerry ceded the point but sought to portray Bush's errors as greater, saying: "I made a mistake in how I talk about the war, but the president made a mistake in invading Iraq. Which is worse?" He added: "I believe that when you know something's going wrong, you make it right. That's what I learned in Vietnam. . . . And I'm going to lead those troops to victory."
Both candidates caricatured and exaggerated each other's positions. But the debate, coming after a campaign full of attack ads and bitter disputes about each man's service during the Vietnam War, was relatively high-minded and substantive. The two did not strongly question each other's character, and even took time to praise each other, Bush noting Kerry's relationship with his daughters and Kerry offering kind words for the first lady.
Kerry portrayed Hussein as a lesser threat than al Qaeda. "The president moved the troops so he's got 10 times the number of troops in Iraq than he has in Afghanistan, where Osama bin Laden is," he said. "Does that mean that Saddam Hussein was 10 times more important than Osama bin Laden? I don't think so."
Bush avoided a question about whether the country would be more susceptible to terrorist attack under Kerry -- something Bush's campaign has often done. "I don't believe it's going to happen. I believe I'm going to win, because the American people know I know how to lead," he said. "I understand everybody in this country doesn't agree with the decisions that I've made. And I've made some tough decisions. But people know where I stand."
Kerry sought to rebut Bush's charge, highly effective so far, that he "wilts" and "wavers." "I have no intention of wilting," he said. "I've never wilted in my life. And I've never wavered in my life. I know exactly what we need to do in Iraq, and my position has been consistent.
Bush retorted: "The only thing consistent about my opponent's position is that he's been inconsistent. He changes positions. And you cannot change positions in this war on terror if you expect to win."
The two frequently returned to the question of whether Bush failed to enlist allies in the war in Iraq. "I think we need a president who has the credibility to bring the allies back to the table and to do what's necessary to make it so America isn't doing this alone," Kerry said.
Kerry criticized Bush for shunning alliances. "This president has left them in shatters across the globe, and we're now 90 percent of the casualties in Iraq and 90 percent of the costs. I think that's wrong, and I think we can do better."
Bush portrayed Kerry's remarks as insulting to Britain, Poland and other nations that have contributed to the war. "I don't appreciate it when a candidate for president denigrates the contributions of these brave soldiers," he said.
Still, the candidates came across as largely agreeing on many of the key issues of the debate. Both said they would continue the war in Iraq until victory is at hand, train Iraqis to provide security and continue to press allies to provide additional assistance, especially as the January election draws near. They both promised robust programs to secure borders, ports and airlines and target nuclear proliferation as their top priority over the next four years.
The candidates disagreed most sharply on North Korea, which during Bush's term has evicted international inspectors and reprocessed enough plutonium to produce half a dozen nuclear weapons. Kerry called for bilateral talks with the North Korean government to give up its weapons. Bush blasted that idea as a "serious mistake," saying it would end the multi-nation diplomacy underway by the administration.
The candidates appeared to differ on the potential of sending U.S. troops to restore peace in Sudan, where ethnic fighting has ravaged the Darfur region. Both called the situation "genocide," and said the African Union should take the lead role in restoring order. But Kerry said the United States should commit more logistical assistance now and consider a larger role if the African Union needs it to end the bloodshed.
The debate was seen, along with each party's nominating convention, as one of the most significant events of the general-election campaign. Both parties viewed the exchange as the best -- and possibly last -- chance for Kerry to erase the narrow but consistent lead Bush has had in polls nationally and in key electoral states.
The candidates clashed for 90 minutes from twin lecterns set up in a converted basketball arena at the University of Miami. Standing on a red carpet before a patriotic backdrop, they fielded questions from moderator Jim Lehrer of PBS in an exchange governed by strict rules agreed on by the two campaigns as a way to limit surprises. The first of three debates, it was designed to cover only foreign affairs and homeland security -- which because of the 2001 terrorist attacks and the war in Iraq have replaced the economy as the campaign's main focus.
The two men sparred over Iraq policy after a particularly violent day in that country. Bombs in a west Baghdad neighborhood killed at least 34 children and seven adults and wounded scores, including 10 American soldiers. A U.S. soldier and several Iraqis were killed by car bombs outside of Baghdad and in the northern city of Tall Afar, while insurgents in Iraq attacked a support area for U.S.-led coalition forces and took 10 more hostages.
