In rush to defend White House, Rice trips over own words

[reprehensor]

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2004%2F03%2F26%2FMNGSR5RPMV1.DTL

Washington -- This week's testimony and media blitz by former White House counterterrorism chief Richard Clarke has returned unwanted attention to his former boss, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice.

The refusal by President Bush's top security aide to testify publicly before the commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks elicited rebukes by commission members as they held open hearings this week. Thomas Kean, the former New Jersey governor Bush named to be chairman of the commission, said: "I think this administration shot itself in the foot by not letting her testify in public."

At the same time, some of Rice's rebuttals of Clarke's broadside against Bush, which she delivered in a flurry of media interviews and statements rather than in testimony, contradicted other administration officials and her own previous statements.

Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage contradicted Rice's claim that the White House had a strategy before Sept. 11 for military operations against al Qaeda and the Taliban. The CIA contradicted Rice's earlier assertion that Bush had requested a CIA briefing in the summer of 2001 because of elevated terrorist threats. And Rice's assertion this week that Bush had told her on Sept. 16, 2001, that "Iraq is to the side" appeared to be contradicted by an order signed by Bush on Sept. 17 directing the Pentagon to begin planning military options for an invasion of Iraq.

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[BOSSHOG]

1. Always tell the truth and you will never have to remember anything

Richard Clarke does not have to remember anything, but condi sure does. I think at one time in her life she was credible. That's all done with now.

[Skittles]

12. I agree, BOSSHOG

Condi's been playing the role of a republican whore so long now she cannot remember what it means to be truthful.

[DenverDem]

2. Sociopathological prevaricators can't keep their stories straight.

Their absurd megalomaniacle insanity is transparent yet their mindless hordes of followers march on rationality with even more evangelistic fervor. Half of the American population has truly gone mad.

[LynzM]

5. I agree

People who 'will support Bush no matter what'... I cannot believe that. Can. Not. I mean, look at what the man (boy?) and his administration have done!? Gah! </rant>

[pacifictiger]

9. unquestioned loyalty,

a sure sign of cult mentality formed by promises of eternal salvation.

[jbfam4]

3. Thanks for posting

Great article. She needs to go under oath. No more meetings behind closed doors. We have a right to know.

[savistocate]

11. Alert!! online Poll at msn.com/slate

"Should Rice give testimony under oath"--confirmation today is she's getting her sudden request for replay. Spose it's posted elsewhere.

[Trajan]

4. Pincus Pincus PINCUS ! ....

This is from the Washington Post: .. yet another expose' of the LIES promoted by this bunch of losers in the WH ...

Walter Pincus has their number ...

[grannylib]

6. Man she is really messing it up, isn't she? Bet she will be a sacrificial

goat before long; they can't afford her...
Love it.

[fob]

7. Let me ask you this though granny. What would be the repercussions

of having the scapegoat be a black woman? I think Rice was put in her position for political mileage(black woman in the admin) and she was unqualified for the spot. Not because of her race or sex, but because she was supposedly an expert in Russian Affairs! She may have been helpful in her previous admin experience before the end of the Cold War, but when the outgoing NSA Head, Sandy Berger, sets up multiple briefings regarding al queda/terrorism as the topmost priority, an expert in Russian Affairs is a tad obsolete!

My point is bush* spent political capital to "buy" votes with his choice of Rice, now he can't dump her in an election season without seeming to be preserving the good ole white boy network at her expense. Of course the truth is she deserves to be fired for her incompetence, but given the circumstances that bush* has stood behind other doofuses that were white males(Tenet comes to mind), that Condi CANNOT be the fallgal here, now. bush* is toast. He has to stand behind her regardless and it will take them all down.

[Desperadoe]

8. Oh really??

I guess you're right. He would lose the Black vote!

Don't bet your pension on this. Bush and co. would much rather appease their base than worry about how this would look to the few African Americans who would even consider voting for this clown again.

Bush doesn't have a hope in hell of gaining any more votes. His only hope is to hold on for dear life to the good ol' boy network and the loonytune Christian right and pray to his personal Saviour that Diebold can steal this one too.

Dr. Rice is toast. Gone, along with the other token, General Powell. The sad fact is, they should all be behind bars in Gitmo but they never will. What they have done is tantamount to treason and war crimes, as well as theft, extortion and various other high crimes and misdemeanors, not to mention numerous felonies.

[donhakman]

10. Rice and Powell were just following orders

[MonicaR]

13. What Black Vote?

Bush only got 9% of the Black vote in 2000. In Texas it was 5%

[coda]

14. Good call on her(Rove's) part to not testify under oath.

She'd be under indictment by now.

[teryang]

15. You've got that right

She's told so many lies she doesn't know whether she's coming or going. And the gross corruption in running the country for the benefit of the energy sector would come out in any prosecution.

The administration has it both ways. By floating discussion of firing her, they gain support from the racist demographic who might otherwise be thinking of reduced wages, medical care, and lost jobs. By keeping her as long as possible they can posture as loyal, steadfast, and equananimous. She is definitely being styled as the person to take a fall. The shredders are probably going 24/7 in her offices.

She is small fry.

[grannylib]

16. Well exactly...she cannot testify under oath and tell the truth, because

they would fry her and everyone else in the administration for their clueless uselessness; if she lies, well then they're fucked too.
Too bad that even after they are all voted out of office, they will still be making money off of their incompetence, collecting pensions and speaking fees...they ought to be sentenced to life as ordinary citizens making minumum wage; now that would be justice for them...