World News 01-10-2004 Bush Made Colossal Error who: Senator John Kerry what: Says George Bush made a colossal error by invading Iraq where: Miami, Florida when: Last night snippet: "John Kerry made a biting and tightly-argued challenge to George W. Bush`s leadership in the war on terror in the first presidential debate on Thursday night," says The Financial Times, "criticising the US president for launching the war in Iraq while Osama bin Laden remained at large." Senator Kerry accused President Bush of committing a "colossal error in judgment" by invading Iraq, says The Guardian. He said the president was not "smart" to start a war in Iraq when Afghanistan was still sheltering the al-Qaeda leader. But in a "well-rehearsed" 90-minute exchange, Mr Bush retorted that Senator Kerry had voted to authorise the use of force. "You cannot change positions in this war on terror if you expect to win," he said. "Not since 1960 had a debate been this eagerly hyped and, arguably, as important to the election result," wrote The Scotsman`s Washington correspondent, Alex Massie, before the debate. That memorable face-off - between Richard Nixon and John F Kennedy - "is widely credited with having been a vital part of Mr Kennedy`s triumph," he recalls. But last night`s clash seems to have had much less influence. Surveys indicate that Mr Kerry was the "winner", but it was by no means a landslide. "The Gallup poll had Mr Kerry winning by 53 per cent to 37 per cent," says The Financial Times, "CBS had Mr Kerry winning by 44 per cent to 26 per cent with 30 per cent saying it was a tie and ABC had Mr Kerry 45 per cent to 36 per cent with 17 per cent saying it was a tie." [... more]

What The Papers Say is delivered to thousands of readers every morning by web, WAP and email. Sign up today!