Gore - Iraq war push makes the world more dangerous

SAN FRANCISCO -- Al Gore harshly criticized President Bush's push for war against Iraq, saying it has hurt the United States' standing and could dangerously undermine the rule of law around the world.

"After Sept. 11, we had enormous sympathy, goodwill and support around the world," Gore said Monday. "We've squandered that, and in one year we've replaced that with fear, anxiety and uncertainty, not at what the terrorists are going to do but at what we are going to do."

In his first major speech on the Iraq situation, the once and possibly future Democratic presidential candidate accused Bush of abandoning the goal of a world where nations follow laws.

"That concept would be displaced by the notion that there is no law but the discretion of the president of the United States," he said.

"If other nations assert the same right, then the rule of law will quickly be replaced by the reign of fear," and any nation that perceives itself threatened would feel justified in starting wars, he said.

Gore also told an enthusiastic Commonwealth Club crowd he would decide in December whether to challenge Bush again for the presidency in 2004.

Gore always has supported overthrowing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and was one of the few Senate Democrats who voted in favor of the Gulf War resolution after Iraq attacked Kuwait. He said he felt betrayed by the first President Bush's "hasty withdrawal from the battlefield."

But like other leading Democrats, Gore has expressed reservations in recent months about military action against Iraq, suggesting the diplomatic costs would be extremely high.

'Could be worse off'

His speech Monday was much more critical, warning of ominous and untold consequences, ranging from a short-term power vacuum that could increase the danger of chemical and biological attacks, to the creation of legions of enemies angry and fearful about U.S. domination.

"If we end the war in Iraq the way we ended the war in Afghanistan, we could easily be worse off than we are today," Gore said.

Even before securing United Nations support for a multinational war against Iraq, Bush asked Congress to approve the use of "all means that he determines to be appropriate" in a unilateral effort to topple Saddam Hussein.

Gore urged Congress not to give the president such a broad mandate.