Gore, Bush Decry Mideast Violence
Al Gore and George W. Bush returned to the campaign trail after their second presidential debate, but any stump speeches the White House hopefuls had prepared were overtaken by events.
Domestic issues, which have thus far dominated the campaign season, were thrust aside in light of escalating violence between Israel and the Palestinians and a deadly explosion that rocked a U.S. destroyer in Yemen.
Gore and Bush said those responsible for the blast that ripped a hole in the side of the USS Cole should be punished. Both expressed shock and anger at the blast in the Gulf of Aden that caused the death of U.S. sailors in an apparent terrorist attack.
“If it is determined to be the result of a terrorist operation, those responsible should know that the United States will not be rest until the perpetrators are held accountable,” Gore said after a moment of silence on the campaign trail, reports CBS News Correspondent Bob Schieffer.
“This is a situation, which will bring a response,” Gore said.
Bush called the incident a “cowardly act” and said, “I hope we can gather enough intelligence to figure out who did the act and take appropriate action. There must be a consequence.”
“First, our prayers go to the families. It is a constant reminder that people wearing uniforms make sacrifices,” Bush said.
The bloody developments occurred just hours after the candidates spent half of their second debate discussing foreign policy.
Bush made his comments in Pennsylvania and Michigan, while Gore was campaigning in Wisconsin. Gore cut short his campaign schedule to return to Washington because of the crisis.
They were much in agreement Thursday on the latest developments in the Middle East, calling for Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to make a peaceful overture before the violence spins out of control and other countries in the Mideast are drawn into the fray.
Bush said he appreciated what President Clinton was trying to do to “to bring calm to the Middle East.”
“Chairman Arafat must stand up and call on the people he represents to put down their rocks and their arms,” Bush said.
Gore said “Israel has really gone a long way in offering formulas for ending the long conflict” in the Middle East and the “burden falls on Chairman Arafat to stop this violence.”
“I want to call on Chairman Arafat to issue instructions to those who have been perpetrating this violence to cease and desist,” the vice president said.
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