Virginia Beach, Va. – Republican presidential candidate Rudolph Giuliani on Tuesday said former President Clinton did not respond forcefully enough to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing or later attacks.
The former New York City mayor accused Democrats of weakness and naiveté in dealing with terrorism. Giuliani made the comments to about 650 business, corporate and political leaders at Regent University, the conservative Christian college founded by religious broadcaster Pat Robertson.
“Islamic terrorists killed more than 500 Americans before Sept. 11. Many people think the first attack on America was on Sept. 11, 2001. It was not. It was in 1993.”
Giuliani argued that Clinton treated the World Trade Center bombing as a criminal act instead of a terrorist attack, calling it “a big mistake” that led to strikes elsewhere.
“The United States government, then President Clinton, did not respond,” Giuliani said. “(Osama) bin Laden declared war on us. We didn’t hear it.”
Additional nation/world news briefs:
BATON ROUGE, La.
Legislature OKs ban on abortion method
The legislature approved a ban on a late-term abortion procedure Tuesday, the first state to do so since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal ban.
The House voted unanimously for a measure that would allow the procedure that anti-abortion activists call “partial birth” abortions only when failure to perform it would endanger the woman’s life. The procedure would be a crime in all other cases, including when the pregnancy is expected to cause health problems for the woman.
The measure goes to Gov. Kathleen Blanco, who describes herself as anti-abortion but has not indicated whether she plans to sign the bill.
LOUISVILLE, Ky.
Kin of girl injured in ride thank supporters
A 13-year-old girl whose feet were severed in an accident on an amusement park ride is in stable condition in a Nashville, Tenn., hospital, her family said in a statement Tuesday.
Kaitlyn Lasitter was on the Superman Tower of Power ride Thursday at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville when a cable broke loose, cutting off her feet above the ankles, authorities said. State officials were investigating the incident.
“The parents of Kaitlyn Lasitter would like to acknowledge everyone across the country that have been supporting their daughter with many positive thoughts and prayers over the last six days,” said the statement issued through Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
RENO, Nev.
Man injures self after testifying in slaying
A man accused of killing his wife – former Nevada Controller Kathy Augustine – attempted suicide by slashing his wrists a day after testifying in his defense, authorities said Tuesday.
District Judge Steven Kosach suspended the trial after Chaz Higgs was found in a Reno apartment he shared with his mother.
Defense attorney David Houston said Higgs’ injury did not appear life-threatening, and Higgs was in jail under suicide watch.
Higgs, 43, testified Monday that he was innocent and that he loved Augustine even though he had decided to leave her. The critical care nurse is accused of killing Augustine, 50, by injecting her with a powerful muscle relaxant. The defense contends she died of heart failure.
