Ex-chiefs hit Bush stance Carter and Clinton say Iraq attack's bad policy By THOMAS M. DeFRANK in Washington and CORKY SIEMASZKO in New York DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

Two former Presidents broke with protocol yesterday and publicly criticized the White House for backing an attack on Iraq. "A unilateral war with Iraq is not the answer," Jimmy Carter said in an opinion piece.

Bill Clinton, another Democrat, urged Bush to nail Osama Bin Laden first.

"Saddam Hussein didn't kill 3,100 people on Sept. 11," Clinton said. "Osama Bin Laden did, and as far as we know he's still alive."

A Bush administration official said Clinton's remarks were part of his ongoing damage control effort to deflect criticism that he didn't do enough to deal with Bin Laden when he was in the White House.

"It's really hard to take them seriously," the official said. "He's trying to protect his legacy."

As for Carter, another Bush official said, "We're used to it. He's been popping off for decades. He did the same thing to Clinton."

Historically, it's been considered bad form for a former chief executive to criticize a sitting President.

Wary of war talk

In a piece published in The Washington Post, Carter said Saddam poses "no current danger to the United States" and warned that "belligerent and divisive voices now seem to be dominant in Washington."

Carter agreed with President Bush that Saddam's "development of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons" cannot be ignored.

But Carter said the U.S. runs the risk of alienating "our necessary allies" by threatening to topple Saddam with or without their support.

Until now, Clinton had gone to great pains to show solidarity with Bush - even after White House spokesman Ari Fleischer blamed his failed diplomacy for the current violence in Israel.

First, Bin Laden

Clinton spokesman Jim Kennedy said the former President "has supported President Bush's efforts in Afghanistan every step of the way."

"On Iraq, the administration has yet to take action, so there is nothing to support or criticize," Kennedy said.

But at a fund-raiser for a California congressional candidate on Thursday, Clinton said Bush should finish off Bin Laden before taking on Iraq.

"I also believe we might do more good for American security in the short run at far less cost by beefing up our efforts in Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere to flesh out the entire network," Clinton said.

Clinton also warned that Saddam, who used biological weapons against the Kurds, could use them again if the U.S. attacks.

"He has maximum incentive not to use this stuff," Clinton said. "If we go, he has maximum incentive to use it because he knows he's going to lose."

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2002