Daschle Says His Iraq Criticism of Bush Ill-Timed Fri Mar 28, 6:52 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle labels as ill-timed his charge that President Bush (news - web sites) "failed so miserably at diplomacy that we're now forced to war."
Daschle said in Washington on March 17: "I'm saddened, saddened that this president failed so miserably at diplomacy that we're now forced to war." He voiced his criticism just hours before the president gave Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) an ultimatum to leave Iraq (news - web sites) in 48 hours or face a U.S.-led invasion.
"I don't think the timing of those comments were necessarily the best," Daschle was quoted as telling reporters from his home state of South Dakota on Thursday. "I had no idea when I said them what the timing of the military operation would be." A Daschle aide on Friday confirmed the senator's remarks.
In response to a wave of Republican criticism, Daschle said the next day he stood by his remarks. A Daschle aide said on Friday the senator still stands by them.
In speaking with South Dakota reporters on Thursday, Daschle saluted Bush's execution of the war as well as the U.S. troops fighting it.