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An Inadvertent Truth

A diplomat who inadvertently spoke the truth has been quick to recant, Emily Litella style.

"Upon reading the transcript of my appearance on Al-Jazeera, I realized that I seriously misspoke by using the phrase 'there has been arrogance and stupidity' by the U.S. in Iraq," said [Alberto] Fernandez, director of public diplomacy in State's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.

He meant to say that everything is wonderful in Iraq due to the masterful stewardship of the Bush administration which is protecting us all from evildoing terrorists by fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them ... hello? is anyone still awake?

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    Re: An Inadvertent Truth (none / 0) (#1)
    by Edger on Sun Oct 22, 2006 at 09:56:22 PM EST
    It gets even better:

    "Upon reading the transcript of my appearance on Al-Jazeera, I realized that I seriously misspoke by using the phrase 'there has been arrogance and stupidity' by the U.S. in Iraq. This represents neither my views nor those of the State Department. I apologize," Fernandez said in a statement.

    The State Department had said that the English translation of the comments posted on Al Jazeera's English-language Web site had misquoted Fernandez.
    --Diplomat 'mispoke' on U.S. arrogance in Iraq

    So he said it, then State said he was misquoted, then he quoted himself saying it, then he apologized for saying it, in essence explaining that what he meant to say was that he didn't mean to say what he says he said, he thinks. But he forgot to retract it or even try to deny that he said it.

    Is anybody following this, cuz' I'm lost now... ;-)

    It was all just a big misunderstanding. Or lack of understanding.

    I hope his resume is up to date. Heh.

    Re: An Inadvertent Truth (none / 0) (#2)
    by Edger on Sun Oct 22, 2006 at 10:09:46 PM EST
    And I thought I made a mistake once before too. But I found out later I was wrong. ;-)

    Parent
    Re: An Inadvertent Truth (none / 0) (#3)
    by jarober on Sun Oct 22, 2006 at 11:17:08 PM EST
    I guess you love the "nickel defense" in football, too.  The fact of the matter is, we haven't been attacked here in the US since 9/11, which is more than I can way about the post WTC I era under the previous administration.  

    Do you seriously think that a pure defense operation would work?  Has it worked in the past?

    Oh, and nice try to blame 9/11 on Bush.  He was President for 9 months before the attack - who was on watch before then?

    Re: An Inadvertent Truth (none / 0) (#8)
    by Skyho on Mon Oct 23, 2006 at 12:12:32 PM EST
    jarober,

    Actually, sir, we have been attacked many times, and not just by Al Queda.

    We now suffer politically inspired attacks on the way we live as well as on our founding documents.  We are under economic attack, in one instance alone, Iraq, we are flushing just over $1 billion per week down the toilet, killing 3000 Coalition troops in 3.5 years.  A broken Homeland Security system, bolstered with promises of an easily breached, one billion dollar fence, on the shortest of our two shared borders.

    To applaud anyone for a "good" job, you would have to show that you actually foiled a plot, something this administration cannot prove.  I mean, it would be just as meaningless to say there have been no pink elephants in our town square since 11Sep01, so, we must be doing something right, right?

    We have tossed Habeas Corpus for everyone, include American citizens and have vested sole determination of combat/non-combat status of anyone in the world, including you to one, highly fallible individual.  King George III was more rational.

    I will say, however, our moronic president has done a heck of a fine job for Al Queda, playing the monkey for Israel, continued terrorizing US citizens and providing free training for any and all insurgents as well as providing a recruiting impetus for terrorist organizations around the globe.

    Good show, Bushie!

    Feh!

    Parent

    Re: An Inadvertent Truth (none / 0) (#4)
    by Edger on Mon Oct 23, 2006 at 01:59:03 AM EST
    Jarober - you're right. I guess it was all the arrogance and stupidity. After all, Clinton had eight years. And it only took Bush nine months?

    Regular little bunny, isn't he? Was it good for you too?

    Re: An Inadvertent Truth (none / 0) (#5)
    by Che's Lounge on Mon Oct 23, 2006 at 09:34:21 AM EST
    I never make mistakes.

    I thought I did once, but it was an error.

    Re: An Inadvertent Truth (none / 0) (#6)
    by kdog on Mon Oct 23, 2006 at 09:45:11 AM EST
    We haven't had another ice age under Bush either....I guess Bush controls the climate too.  

    One thing I know he's responsible for..the 10k plus US casualties in Iraq.  I think it's safe to say those families have been terrorized.


    Re: An Inadvertent Truth (none / 0) (#7)
    by cpinva on Mon Oct 23, 2006 at 10:35:01 AM EST
    jarober, if a captain takes command of a ship, and it fails inspection a week later, guess who gets nailed? nine months was certainly long enough to have had a clue. it represented a little over 18%% of his term in office. of course, that presumes that he was paying attention.

    further, you make the unsupported assumption that someone was actually plotting another attack, post 9/11, and it has been "foiled" by the bush administration. no confirmable evidence has thus far been presented of any planned and detered attacks.