Wednesday, September 13

The President Is A Quack

So says Rep Patrick McHenry from N.C. Here are his comments about Nancy Pelosi, followed by the comments of the President back in March 2002.

(HILL Blog) I saw Nancy Pelosi’s comments that capturing Osama Bin Laden would not make us safer. And I had one thought: “What a quack.” Based on her logic, Hitler should’ve been a low-priority target during World War II. In the run-up to November, this is one of the hundreds of reasons Americans must consider WWPD - What Would Pelosi Do?
Typical rhetoric from the right. Only problem with this is, Pelosi isn't the first to say this. Roll the tape...
(White House Press Conference 3/16/02)Q Mr. President, in your speeches now you rarely talk or mention Osama bin Laden. Why is that? Also, can you tell the American people if you have any more information, if you know if he is dead or alive? Final part -- deep in your heart, don't you truly believe that until you find out if he is dead or alive, you won't really eliminate the threat of --

THE PRESIDENT: Deep in my heart I know the man is on the run, if he's alive at all. Who knows if he's hiding in some cave or not; we haven't heard from him in a long time. And the idea of focusing on one person is -- really indicates to me people don't understand the scope of the mission.

Terror is bigger than one person. And he's just -- he's a person who's now been marginalized. His network, his host government has been destroyed. He's the ultimate parasite who found weakness, exploited it, and met his match. He is -- as I mentioned in my speech, I do mention the fact that this is a fellow who is willing to commit youngsters to their death and he, himself, tries to hide -- if, in fact, he's hiding at all.

So I don't know where he is. You know, I just don't spend that much time on him.....
And the follow up question by the reporter
Q But don't you believe that the threat that bin Laden posed won't truly be eliminated until he is found either dead or alive?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, as I say, we haven't heard much from him. And I wouldn't necessarily say he's at the center of any command structure. And, again, I don't know where he is. I -- I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him. I know he is on the run. I was concerned about him, when he had taken over a country. I was concerned about the fact that he was basically running Afghanistan and calling the shots for the Taliban.

But once we set out the policy and started executing the plan, he became -- we shoved him out more and more on the margins. He has no place to train his al Qaeda killers anymore. And if we -- excuse me for a minute -- and if we find a training camp, we'll take care of it. Either we will or our friends will. That's one of the things -- part of the new phase that's becoming apparent to the American people is that we're working closely with other governments to deny sanctuary, or training, or a place to hide, or a place to raise money.
Not concerned about him seems to be the same as not a threat, no? While I don't agree with either of them, the Representative from N.C. needs to turn on brain before opening mouth next time.

But what really jumped out in this transcript was how the President said that Al Qaida had no place to train. Doesn't that go directly against what they are saying now about Zarqawi having safe haven in Iraq? That Zarqawi and other Al Qaida were operating freely in Iraq. A lie is always tough to keep going. The more time that goes by, the more the story will change. The Truth shall set you free!