Gore says Bush Administration badgered Israel; Bush again calls for missile defense system

Presidential candidates drop domestic policy battles to square off on geopolitics

May 23, 2000
Web posted at: 6:03 p.m. EDT (2203 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Vice President Al Gore, the presumptive Democratic nominee for the presidency, responded Tuesday to sharp criticism leveled a day earlier by his Republican rival, Texas Gov. George W. Bush, saying the Clinton-Gore Administration had to repair relations with Israel after the departure of the Bush and Reagan administrations.

On Monday, Bush, in a key Middle East policy speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), accused the Clinton-Gore Administration of meddling in Israel's internal politics by promoting the candidacy of current Prime Minister Ehud Barak prior to elections last year.

Barak displaced former conservative Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in May of 1999.

Gore, whose appearance Tuesday before the same group allowed him an unfettered chance to respond to Bush's accusations free of immediate response from the Bush campaign, said Bush's father's four-year administration consistently tried to "bully" Israel, while resisting any opportunities to become involved in the Middle East peace process.

"In 1991, I vividly remember standing up against a group of administration foreign policy advisers who promoted the insulting concept of linkage, which tried to use loan guarantees as a stick to bully Israel," Gore said.

Gore was in the Senate at the time.

"We defeated them, we stopped them," he said to enthusiastic applause.

The timing of Gore's address before the powerful pro-Israeli lobbying group is significant for a number of reasons. Israel's rapid withdrawal from its so-called security zone in southern Lebanon -- after 22 years of occupation -- thrusts the region back under the international microscope, and could significantly change the political makeup of the region.

In turn, the status of the entire region's peace process could be altered. With talks between Israel and its most powerful regional enemy Syria stalled for months, the troop withdrawal gives Syria a significant toehold along Israel's northern border.

Syria, which exercises significant sway over Lebanese internal politics, supports the Hezbollah, the most powerful of the many Muslim resistance groups operating in southern Lebanon. With the rapid withdrawal of Israeli combat troops from the area, and disbursement of Israel's proxy South Lebanon Army, Hezbollah fighters are streaming into the onetime security zone, and taking up positions with a clear view toward Israel's northern border.

Gore, exercising his authority as a member of the U.S. administration, issued a sharp warning Tuesday to Syrian President Hafez Assad, saying that if Israel was subjected to renewed violence by Hezbollah fighters, the United States would hold Syria responsible.

"As Israel proceeds to withdraw from Lebanon ... let this happen without incident as a down payment for peace in the future," Gore said, directly addressing Assad.

"Or, by continuing to allow Hezbollah to harass Israel as her troops withdraw and even after her troops withdraw, (Assad) can signal he is not interested in progress."

"If conflict does come to this area, President Assad will bear a heavy responsibility before the entire world," Gore said.

As Bush and Gore battle to woo American Jewish voters -- who could well determine who takes the state of New York in November -- Gore opted not to follow Bush's lead Tuesday on an issue close to the heart of many in attendance at the AIPAC meetings in Washington this week.

Speaking to the group on Monday, Bush said he would support moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem -- the city Israel has claimed as it capital, and the city that the Palestinian Authority has targeted as the capital of any potential Palestinian state.

Gore said earlier this year that the status of Jerusalem must be worked into the so-called "final status" negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

Later in the day, Gore addressed another essential foreign policy issue -- permanent normal trade status for China, which will be up for a vote in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Speaking to members of the Service Employees International Union in Pittsburgh on Tuesday afternoon, Gore said his support for open trade with China was not based on political concerns, but was rather based on the economic interests of the United States.

"As we meet our economic obligations at home, I believe we also have to keep opening new markets for our products around the world," Gore told the union's convention. "I believe it is right for America's economy and right for the cause of reform in China," he said. "I know you disagree. And I respect your disagreements."

The vice president is not in the good graces of many labor groups thanks to his support for permanent normal trade relations with China. Officials of the United Auto Workers said Tuesday that they would consider endorsing another candidate for the presidency -- possibly Green Party candidate Ralph Nader -- because of their deep anger over Gore's China position.

"It's time to forget about party labels and instead focus on supporting candidates, such as Ralph Nader, who will take a stand based on what is right, not what big money dictates," UAW President Stephen Yokich said.

Bush calls for missile defense, reducing nuclear arsenal

In Washington on Tuesday morning, George W. Bush, speaking before a news conference at the National Press Club, repeated calls for the deployment of a defense web across all 50 states that would be capable of destroying any missiles launched by rogue nations with the intent of hitting a U.S. city.

"America must build effective missile defenses, based on the best available options, at the earliest possible dates," said Bush, who was flanked by former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and George Shultz, and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Colin Powell.

"Our missile defense must be designed to protect all 50 states," Bush continued, "And our friends and allies, and forces deployed overseas, from missile attacks by rogue nations, or accidental launches."

Bush made a similar pledge Monday in his speech before AIPAC, suggesting Israel could benefit from such a system.

The Texas governor, while not offering many details, appeared Tuesday to try to soothe the worries of nuclear powers Russia and China, who have claimed that U.S. moves to deploy a defense system could give it a significant strategic advantage.

Russia has said that deployment of a ballistic missile defense network would abrogate a number of arms control treaties, while China has threatened to engage in an arms race with the United States if such a system comes into existence.

Bush said that as president, he would seek to reduce U.S. nuclear stockpiles to their "lowest possible number" without sacrificing readiness or security levels, and added that the U.S. should cease research, development and upkeep of weapons systems whose uses cannot be applied to a post-Cold War world.

"We should not keep weapons that our military planners do not need," he said. "America should lead by example.

Strategic weapons levels, he said, should be dropped below the level outlined in the START II treaty with Russia, which called for both nations to reduce their stock of warheads from 6,000 to between 3,000 and 3,500. A new START III treaty now in the works could cut those numbers by an additional 1,000.

He also said many more American missile systems should be taken of 'high-alert' status.

"Preparation for quick launch, within minutes after warning of an attack, was the rule during an era of superpower rivalry," he said. "But today, with two nations at peace, keeping so many weapons at high alert may create unacceptable risks of accidental or unauthorized launch."

The Gore campaign and the White House responded later in the day to Bush's address -- both saying that the Texas governor did not have enough foreign policy experience to know what he was talking about.

"Look, he is the governor of Texas, not someone who is setting our international policy," said White House spokesman Joe Lockhart.

"Bush's agenda is irresponsible and shows that he lacks the depth of experience to keep America safe and secure," said Gore spokesman Douglas Hattaway.

Bush began his day by meeting with New York Republican Gov. George Pataki. Pataki told reporters they did not discuss the roller-coaster developments of the last week in the New York Senate race, which saw New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani officially withdraw citing health problems, and Rep. Rick Lazio take up the fight against first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.

He spent the latter portions of his day on Capitol Hill attempting to convince undecided House lawmakers to vote Wednesday for permanent normal trade relations with China.

"The president has given it his best shot," Bush said. "We need to give entrepreneurs in China a taste of freedom, a chance to grow."

"When we trade with China, we are trading more and more with people in the private sector," Bush said. "We have to give freedom a chance to take hold.

Speaking to a House Republican luncheon, Bush, targeting undecided Republicans, said, "You need to vote for free trade. It is okay if you are against us, but don't be."

He then departed Washington for Columbus, Ohio, where he planned to discuss his "Reading First" education initiative with local teachers.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report, which was written by Ian Christopher McCaleb.