With polls showing a convincing victory for John F Kerry in the first presidential debate, President George W Bush launched a fresh attack on his democratic rival saying "Kerry Doctrine" would give foreign governments veto power over the United States' national security decisions.
But the the Democrats quickly retorted, accusing that a "desperate" Bush was "lying" about Kerry's statements.
During the debate Kerry, like Bush, accepted the doctrine of preemption but said that he would seek a broad alliance before shooting from the hip, as he implied President Bush did in Iraq.
Bush, in a speech in Ohio yesterday, said, "When he laid out the Kerry Doctrine, he said that America has to pass a 'global test' before we can use American troops to defend ourelves. Think about this: Senator Kerry's approach to foreign policy would give foreign governments veto power over our national security decisions."
"I have a different view," said Bush. "When our country is in danger, the President's job is not to take an international poll.... I will continue to work every day with our friends and allies for the sake of freedom and peace.
"But our national security decisions will be made in the Oval Office, not in foreign capitals," he said.
Bush's senior adviser Karl Rove said that Kerry's policy is based on "some obscure, difficult-to-pin-down impossible-for-him-to-name foreign power that has to approve of us before we either have a genuine coalition or whether we are justified in protecting America."
The Bush campaign yesterday released a new ad titled "Global Test" that will be aired in battleground states: "So we must seek permission from foreign governments before protecting America. A global test? So America will be forced to wait while threats gather? President Bush believes decisions about protecting Amerca should be made in the Oval Office, not in foreign capitals."
The Kerry campaign responded quickly. Its ad says: "He lost. He is desperate. George Bush lost the debate. Now he is lying about it."
Kerry foreign policy adviser Richard Holbrooke was incensed over Bush's use of the words "Kerry Doctrine".
Holbrooke said what Bush is trying to do is start the debate again because he lost it. "The President and his advisers," said Holbrooke, "are once again misrepresenting what Kerry said. It is not a doctrine. It is a statement of longstanding United States policy that asserts the right to launch a preemptive strike but recognises the need to backup such a move by facts and present those facts to allies."
Kerry spokesman Phil Sineer said, "Bush is simply trying to change the topic away from the increasing violence in Iraq. It is astounding that he is making things up when he should be detailing a plan to stabilise the situation in Iraq."
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