07 October 2004	Thursday	21 Shaban 1425

CLEVELAND, Oct 6: US Vice President Dick Cheney and Democratic Sen. John Edwards battled fiercely over the war in Iraq in a debate that featured repeated personal attacks on the other side's records and judgment.

The running mates for President George W. Bush and his Democratic rival Sen. John Kerry picked up where their bosses left off last week - arguing on Tuesday over Iraq and U.S. security - with Edwards accusing Cheney of "not being straight" on Iraq and Cheney countering the Democrats were not qualified to lead.

"What we did in Iraq was exactly the right thing to do," Cheney said, arguing Iraq was a crucial front in a broader war on terror. "If I had it to recommend all over again, I would recommend exactly the same course of action."

Edwards, a North Carolina senator, said Cheney and Bush were ignoring the growing chaos in Iraq and diverting attention from international threats like the nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea.

"Mr. Vice President, you are still not being straight with the American people," Edwards told Cheney, adding later: "I don't think the country can take four more years of this kind of experience."

The vice presidential debate is often a side show to the main event in White House races, but Tuesday's match-up of Cheney and Edwards gained new significance after a series of polls showed the race tightening.

Bush plans to follow up the debate on Wednesday with a speech in the swing state of Pennsylvania on the war on terror, on which polls show voters trust him more than Kerry.

The debate, which branched out to include domestic issues, echoed the arguments of the first presidential encounter but featured more personal attacks. Cheney and Edwards heatedly disputed each other's facts and figures and traded shots over their records and resumes.

'LONG RESUME': "A long resume does not equal good judgment," Edwards said to Cheney, who has a lengthy record of government service. Cheney told Edwards that "frankly you have a record in the Senate that is not very distinguished."

Cheney repeated Bush's criticism of Kerry and Edwards for shifting their views on Iraq. "If they couldn't stand up to the pressures that Howard Dean represented, how can we expect them to stand up to al Qaeda?" Cheney asked.

"I don't believe he has the qualities we need in a commander in chief because I don't think, based on his record, that he would pursue the kind of aggressive policies that need to be pursued if we're going to defeat these terrorists," he said. -Reuters