Kerry criticizes Bush for war policies that drive away potential allies

<br> <br>CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) _ Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry marked the first anniversary of the war in Iraq on Wednesday by criticizing the Bush administration for stubbornly holding

Wednesday, March 17th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) _ Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry marked the first anniversary of the war in Iraq on Wednesday by criticizing the Bush administration for stubbornly holding to failed policies that drive away potential allies at the cost of lives and money ``with no end in sight.''

In remarks prepared for delivery at George Washington University in Washington, Kerry called for better health care and other benefits for veterans while faulting President Bush for failing to carry out promises to those who served in the armed forces. He was to be joined by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former Defense Secretary William Perry.

The Bush administration was marking the anniversary of the war in Iraq with a series of speeches defending the invasion that began March 19, 2003, and contending that overthrowing Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein had made the world safer. The president's re-election campaign was renewing its criticism of Kerry's foreign policy and lack of support for war funding.

Kerry said Bush's use of the armed services has been reckless and has left the military spread far too thin, and he called for more focused use of the nation's armed services.

``We are still bogged down in Iraq and the administration stubbornly holds to failed policies that drive potential allies away,'' he said. ``What we have seen is a steady loss of lives and mounting cost in dollars with no end in sight.''

In a call to bolster support for those in uniform, Kerry proposed to fully fund health care and other benefits so veterans may no longer be ``the neglected soldiers of America.''

``America entered into a covenant with those it drafted and those who enlisted, but the truth is that with every story of a veteran who goes without adequate health care every day, that covenant is broken,'' he said. ``There are countless veterans who fought our wars who are now fighting year after year for the benefits they earned.''

Kerry, a decorated Navy veteran of the Vietnam War, said supporting veterans touches on the character of the nation and its people.

``To me, guaranteeing these rights and organizing our armed forces accordingly is personal, it is in my soul and it's been a large part of my life,'' he said.