Rudy Giuliani Says Obama 'Turned a Corner' on Terrorism
David Sessions
Washington Reporter
Posted:
01/8/10
During a "Good Morning America" appearance on Friday, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani had some rare positive words for the president.
"I'm very hopeful that President Obama turned a corner yesterday," Giuliani said. "He first used the words 'war on terror,' thank goodness. He hasn't done that since he was a candidate."
The slight compliment came after Obama said Thursday that systemic security failures allowed accused Christmas Day bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to board a Detroit-bound flight, and also came amid an avalanche of criticism for the administration's handling of the matter. Some of those criticisms center on the decision to try Abdulmutallab in a civilian court. Giuliani said the presence of a lawyer during Abdulmutallab's questioning after his arrest and the "artificial" 30-hour time limit on interrogation placed ludicrous limits on the information Abdulmutallab could provide.
"I'm very hopeful that President Obama turned a corner yesterday," Giuliani said. "He first used the words 'war on terror,' thank goodness. He hasn't done that since he was a candidate."
The slight compliment came after Obama said Thursday that systemic security failures allowed accused Christmas Day bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to board a Detroit-bound flight, and also came amid an avalanche of criticism for the administration's handling of the matter. Some of those criticisms center on the decision to try Abdulmutallab in a civilian court. Giuliani said the presence of a lawyer during Abdulmutallab's questioning after his arrest and the "artificial" 30-hour time limit on interrogation placed ludicrous limits on the information Abdulmutallab could provide.