"After Sept. 11, we had enormous sympathy, goodwill and support around the world," Gore told about 500 people at the Commonwealth Club of California. "That has been squandered in a year's time and replaced with great fear, anxiety and uncertainty around the world, not at what the terrorist network is going to do, but at what we are going to do."

Gore later told reporters the Bush administration had been guilty of a "do- it-alone, cowboy-type reaction to foreign affairs," saying "there's ample basis for taking off after Saddam, but before you ride out after Jesse James, you ought to put the posse together."

The former vice president delivered his first major remarks on the potential for war with Iraq before an adoring audience at the Fairmont Hotel in heavily Democratic San Francisco. The 2000 Democratic presidential candidate was greeted by cheers, a standing ovation and even an impromptu singing of "Hail to the Chief," the presidential anthem, by some in the crowd.

In response to an audience question about another presidential run, Gore said, "I haven't ruled it out," adding he would decide by December, based on wholly unscientific "gut feeling."

FOCUS ON WAR ON TERROR

In his 45-minute address, Gore said the Bush administration, rather than beating the drums for war with Iraq, should focus its efforts on winning the battle against terrorism and finding and punishing those behind last year's attack on America.

"I do not believe we should allow ourselves to be distracted from this urgent task simply because it is proving to be more difficult and lengthy than predicted," Gore said. "Great nations persevere and then prevail. They do not jump from one unfinished task to another."

Gore conceded that Saddam Hussein was a threat to world peace but said if he "does not present an imminent threat, then is it justifiable for the administration to be seeking by every means to precipitate a confrontation, to find a cause for war and to attack?"

"Even those who now agree that Saddam Hussein must go may divide deeply over the wisdom of presenting the United States as impatient for war," he said.

If the United States goes it alone in an attack on Iraq, it could be devastating for the battle against international terrorism and for the county's standing as a world leader, Gore suggested.

"Winning the war against terrorism is impossible without broad and continuous international cooperation," he said. "Our ability to secure this kind of cooperation can be severely damaged by unilateral action against Iraq."

Gore said the administration was presenting a view that seemed to glorify the idea of U.S. dominance.

"If what America represents to the world is leadership in a commonwealth of equals, then our friends are legion," he said. "If what we represent to the world is empire, then it is our enemies who will be legion."

FIRST OF MANY STRIKES

Gore argued that Bush's proposed doctrine of a pre-emptive strike on those who threatened the country could lead to more military action -- and while Iraq might be the first target, it might not necessarily be the last.

"The very logic of the concept suggests a string of military engagements against a succession of sovereign states: Syria, Libya, North Korea, Iran, none of them very popular in the United States, of course," Gore said.

And Bush's proposed pre-emptive doctrine also leaves open the possibility that it would set a damaging precedent. "If other nations assert the same right, then the rule of law will quickly be replaced by the reign of fear," he said.

Gore enjoyed the enthusiastic reception he received in San Francisco, one of the most Democratic cities in California, a state where he beat Bush by 1.3 million votes.

Throughout his speech -- and later in a question and answer segment -- the audience repeatedly showed its support.

Asked at one point, "If you had been elected president . . ." several in the crowd yelled out "He was!" -- and then took up that chant of "He was! He was!"

Gore, smiling broadly, said, "It's great to be back in California."

The former vice president, though, said he doesn't like to discuss what might have been. "I try to avoid saying what I would have done differently leading up to Sept. 11," he said.

Gore also dodged questions about whether Bush was playing politics with Iraq.

"I have purposely avoided making that charge . . ." he said. "The fact that doubts have been rising up is simply a fact that has to be taken into consideration."

But the crowd erupted in cheers when he added that Bush "should stop using the (war) issue on the campaign trail."

Yet, Gore drew a line -- forcefully -- when an audience member shouted out that Americans had more to fear from Bush than Hussein.

'RESPECT THE DEBATE'

Gore warned there was a danger of going too far in the partisan political furor surrounding the question of war. "We must respect the democratic debate that has made our country great," he said.

Later, in response to reporters' questions, Gore insisted that his address was not a campaign speech, but "an effort to present an alternative point of view and a proposed course of action that I believe would be far better for the country."

Asked whether he was out of step with fellow Democrats, who have been reluctant to criticize Bush on Iraq, Gore said, "I really don't care -- in the sense that I'm going to do and say what I think is right."

Prominent Bay Area Democrats in the crowd praised Gore's speech.

"I just really appreciated what he had to say -- and I think he had to say it," said Susie Tompkins Buell, the co-founder of Esprit and one of the nation's most generous Democratic donors.

Asked whether Gore had won her support for another presidential bid, Buell said she remained undecided.

"But I think Al Gore really put himself out today," she said, "and I found it very strong, and very comforting."

©2002 San Francisco Chronicle

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