World News 06-10-2004 Cheney And Edwards Scrap It Out who: Vice president Dick Cheney what: Attacks John Kerry`s war record in vice-presidential TV debate where: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio when: Last night snippet: The US Vice-President Dick Cheney and his Democratic opponent John Edwards "clashed fiercely over Iraq last night," observes today`s Times, during a "highly aggressive prime-time debate in which neither man emerged as a clear winner." Mr Cheney, who reporter Tim Reid describes as "President Bush`s unflappable but highly effective attack dog," repeatedly targeted John Kerry, the man at the top of the Democrat ticket, for being "too weak and politically self-serving to win the War on Terror". His challenger "accused the administration of mismanaging the conflict and of not being straight with the public," adds The Independent. He said the United States "is bearing 90 per cent of the cost of the conflict as well as suffering 90 per cent of the coalition`s dead and wounded," an accusation that Mr Cheney refuted hotly, telling Sen. Edwards that he was "demeaning the sacrifrice" of Iraqi forces. "Frankly, senator, you have a record that`s not very distinguished," Mr Cheney said, pointing to a pattern of absences during his opponent`s single term in the Senate. "Mr Vice President," replied Edwards, "I don`t think the country can take four more years of this type of experience." While the pair might have emerged from their bout even on points, President Bush was dealt a blow yesterday as Paul Bremer, America`s most senior official in Baghdad until the handover last June, delivered what The Guardian calls "a damning critique of the Bush administration`s policy on Iraq". In failing to contain the looting and violence after Saddam Hussein`s regime fell, Mr Bremer admits the coalition "established an atmosphere of lawlessness. We never had enough troops on the ground," he added. If that wasn`t bad enough, The Independent notes that The Pentagon is investigating cockpit video footage - broadcast last night on Channel 4 news - "that shows American pilots attacking and killing a group of apparently unarmed Iraqi civilians." [... more]

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