Gore Likens Issue of U.S.-Iraq Policy to Watergate Scandal
Escalating the political rhetoric surrounding President Bush’s handling of foreign policy before the Persian Gulf War, Democratic vice presidential nominee Al Gore Jr. suggested Thursday that if Bush is reelected, a Watergate-like scandal could engulf the White House as it did 20 years ago during President Richard M. Nixon’s second term.
“George Bush is presiding over a cover-up significantly larger than Watergate,” Gore said during a campaign address to the National Editorial Writers Conference.
The Watergate break-in at Democratic headquarters led to Nixon’s resignation to avoid an impeachment trial. Gore avoided saying explicitly that Bush’s actions would set in motion a process leading to his impeachment.
Congressional criticism has centered on specific areas. Did the Administration intentionally block the criminal investigation of $5 billion in loans to Iraq? Did Administration officials knowingly keep from Congress key documents describing the extent of prewar U.S. assistance to Saddam Hussein? There is no evidence any laws were broken and no evidence Bush had a direct hand in these actions.
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