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Daschle faults WH anti-terrorism effortsSenate continues debate on homeland security bill
From Dana Bash
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Citing the failure to find Osama bin Laden, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle renewed his assertion Thursday that the administration is not doing enough to win the war on terrorism. "We haven't found bin Laden, we have not made any real progress in many of the other areas involving the key elements of al Qaeda -- they continue to be as great a threat today as they were a year-and-a-half ago -- so by what measure can we say that this has been successful so far?" asked Daschle, D-South Dakota. Daschle dismissed administration arguments that al Qaeda is larger than just one man. "It is bin Laden's messages that we are listening to and it is bin Laden who is still the spokesperson, and, you know, it seems to me we are not worried what others are saying. We are worried about what bin Laden is saying," Daschle said. "And it was the president himself who said that we will not be successful until he is found dead or alive. Those were his words. Well, I guess I would say the time has come to ensure that that happens." At the White House, spokesman Scott McClellan said the United States has made "a tremendous amount of progress" in disrupting terrorist networks across the globe. Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Mississippi, condemned Daschle's comments and strongly hinted Republicans may use them against Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana, in a tight run-off in a state where President Bush is extremely popular. "It seems to me like Senator Daschle's comments are inappropriate and out of order, and he might want to check with Senator Landrieu and see if she agrees that the president has not done a good job on the war on terrorism," Lott said. Pushes for independent 9/11 probeDaschle also criticized the Bush administration for opposing efforts to create a special commission to investigate the September 11 terrorist attacks. A provision for such an independent panel was dropped from the homeland security legislation before the Senate. "If we can't even figure out how it was that they enacted the threats or moved through that attack, and if we can't evaluate why we were as vulnerable as we were, if we can't evaluate how it was the last 9/11 happened, how is it that we can prepare for the next one?" Daschle said. Even as Daschle leveled his criticism, congressional and White House sources said they were still negotiating on creating a commission and could strike a deal before Congress adjourns. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, an original sponsor of legislation to create the panel, said he is "optimistic" that lawmakers and the White House could agree on the differences that have stymied the measure all year. Administration sources told CNN the White House is demanding the commission complete its work by January 1, 2004, to avoid any re-election year "surprise" revelations. Congressional sources said that if a deal is struck on the makeup and structure of a commission, the measure would become part of the intelligence reauthorization bill. White House aides and lawmakers were set to meet Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, Democrats continued to predict the homeland security bill will pass the Senate, despite their reservations on a host of issues, from labor rights to liability limits for manufacturers of anti-terrorism products and medicine. "I think there is such a strong desire to finish this legislation that I think it probably will pass under any circumstances," Daschle said. The House approved the bill Wednesday by a vote of 299-121.
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