Snow confuses Iran, Iraq, blames spat with Helen Thomas

[helderheid]

Snow confuses Iran, Iraq, blames spat with Helen Thomas
07/10/2006 @ 2:44 pm
Filed by RAW STORY

A spirited exchange between White House Press Secretary Tony Snow and reporter Helen Thomas left Snow laughing, "befuddled," and confused, RAW STORY has learned.
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Partial transcript follows:
#

THOMAS: What did India say its reason was for firing a nuclear- capable, long-range missile at a time when this is under such --

SNOW: It didn't do it, but one of the things it did do, Helen, this was not seen as a provocation by the United States or the Pakistanis, both of whom would have reason to do it; nor has it precipitated the kind of diplomatic concern.

THOMAS: (Unintelligble.)

MR. SNOW: Let me continue. They are -- they keep their secrets pretty clearly, and they didn't make any public explanation to that. On the other hand, you will note that there has not been the kind of diplomatic response or the kind of concern expressed by its neighbors as, there has been to the firing in North Korea of its missiles.

Kelly.

THOMAS: One more--wait a minute. Why did they do it?

SNOW: Why don't you ask them?

THOMAS: I can't ask them, but I can certainly see our acquiescence in a very contradictory way.

SNOW: You may think it's contradictory, Helen. You're wrong.

THOMAS: I'm not. (Laughs.)

QUESTION: is China taking the kind of role that the U.S. has wanted them to take --

SNOW: I'm sorry. Come again? I love that laugh. That was so good. (Snow, others laugh.) I completely lost my train of thought, Kelly. You're going to have to -- (laughs) -- that was really good. Go ahead. (Laughs.)
#

Later, Snow went on to blame the exchange for confusion relating to the nations of Iran and Iraq:

#

SNOW: Well, what happened -- I'm not sure that you feel pressure, except it was -- in the case of Iran, you had a nation that had already spurned 17 separate United Nations resolutions, the United Nations Security Council voting 15 to nothing on a resolution, one -- saying to Iran, cooperate or face serious consequences. You had a -- I believe it was 72 votes in the United States Senates -- the United States Senate.

QUESTION: Excuse--

SNOW: So the point here is --

QUESTION: Are you talking about Iran or Iraq?

SNOW: Well, you were just asking about Iraq, right?

QUESTION: Yeah. I got by -- I thought you said Iran. Okay.

SNOW: You know, I may have screwed up. I meant Iraq. Helen's got me so befuddled today. (Laughter.)

The point is --

QUESTION: The president never said "war" --

SNOW: The point -- thank you.

http://www.rawstory.com/admin/dbscripts/printstory.php?story=2494

[CatWoman]

1. I suppose Clinton's dick wasn't available?

[AndyA]

2. Republican Party Rule Book - Rule #205: Blame someone else.

Even if you're caught red handed, put the blame on someone else (a Democrat, if one's available).

[Trouser Trout]

3. What an idiot. n/t

[Roland99]

5. #205? More like #2.

[norml]

4. Didn't want to answer about China not taking their imagined role

Already at war with Iran in his mind.

His slips tell more than his answers.

[LisaM]

6. In a way, I'm glad he's Press Secretary

He's doing such a terrible job.

[niyad]

7. he sounds like a complete goofball.