Politicians Express Outrage, Sadness at Explosion

W A S H I N G T O N, Oct. 12 -- Texas Gov. George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore talked tough today in the wake of a deadly explosion that has killed six U.S. sailors and injured dozens of others on the Arabian peninsula.

“Any terrorist should know that whoever is responsible for something like this will be met with a full and forceful retaliatory response from the United States of America,” Gore told supporters at a rally in Milwaukee. “We will defend our country.”

After the rally, the vice president abruptly threw out his campaign schedule and headed back to the White House for meetings on the situation. It remained unclear this evening whether Gore would return to the campaign trail Friday and attend a previously scheduled meeting with leaders of the Arab-American community in Dearborn, Mich.

Bush Demands Consequences

Both Gore and Bush asked for a moment of silence at rallies today, honoring the dead and missing from the USS Cole. Echoing Gore’s sentiments and calling it a “cowardly attack,” Bush warned, “There must be a consequence.”

One night after engaging Gore in a lengthy discussion of foreign policy at their second presidential debate, Bush challenged the White House to get to the bottom of the tragedy.

“I hope that we gather enough intelligence to figure out who did the act and take the necessary action,” the Texas governor said.

Earlier, Gore told reporters he had been fully briefed on the situation and cautioned against jumping to conclusions until the Pentagon has completed its investigation. But the vice president acknowledged, “It’s most unlikely that this was an accident. All the circumstances and facts point in the opposite direction.”

“This is a situation that will bring a response, we will pursue any and all information and leads as to who was responsible,” Gore said.

Standing by White House

Outrage also flowed from Capitol Hill, as lawmakers took to the floors of the House and Senate to condemn what appeared to be a terrorist attack.