The dog ate my transcript.
That's roughly what Susan Rice's response to a pointed question from Laura Ingraham amounted to. Give credit to Rice, Obama senior foreign policy advisor, for appearing on Ingraham's "Just In" FNC show today and taking on the host in a freewheeling conversation. But she and her candidate are really going to have to learn to do better than the feeble dodge she offered.
The subject was the recent phone conversation between Obama and Iraqi Foreign Minister, Hoshyar Zebari. ABC's Jake Tapper reports that after the call, Obama claimed that Zebari "did not express" any concern about the Dem candidate's plan to withdraw U.S. troops. But Zebari told the Washington Post "that he had some frank talk for the candidate: 'The foreign minister said ‘my message’ to Mr. Obama ‘was very clear...Really, we are making progress. I hope any actions you will take will not endanger this progress.’"
That led to this exchange between Ingraham and Rice.
View video here.
LAURA INGRAHAM: You're not saying that the foreign minister was supportive of the idea of a 16-month period of withdrawal there; you're not saying that, are you?
SUSAN RICE: The foreign minister understood Senator Obama's position about a withdr-- a responsible redeployment.
INGRAHAM: But he disagrees with it, clearly, right? I mean, he disagrees with it, he doesn't think --
RICE: I wasn't on the call. But no, frankly, Laura, it's the Iraqi government that has said they don't want permanent U.S. bases, they don't want the American --
INGRAHAM: That's a different question.
RICE: -- the U.S. military to stay in their country indefinitely.
As Laura suggested, it's one thing not to want permanent bases, entirely another to support the kind of unconditional, precipitous withdrawal Obama proposes.
Is this what we should expect from an Obama administration: a top foreign policy advisor looking into the camera and claiming she was unaware of an exchange between Obama and a key foreign minister because she wasn't "on the call"? Does Rice really expect us to believe that a transcript of the conversation wasn't prepared and that she didn't carefully review it? For that matter, how much more troubling would it be if she is telling the truth, and that Obama's top foreign policy advisor is this much out of the loop?
Will the MSM pick up on this blatant bit of fudging on Rice's part?
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Comments Policy
I like how she started to
June 18, 2008 - 17:43 ET by ckc1227I like how she started to say withdrawal, but caught herself and said "responsible redeployment" instead, lol.
"responsible redeployment"
June 18, 2008 - 20:26 ET by HypocriteHaterShe almost forgot the democrats' talking points.
Whenever I see or hear that
June 18, 2008 - 20:35 ET by Clear thinkerWhenever I see or hear that term "responsible redeployment", I interpret as "Run Away".
"Abstain from McCain"
Withdra---
June 19, 2008 - 06:51 ET by bluefeetbrewsJust say it! Drop the marketing textbook and call a spade a spade...
"This liberal is gonna be
June 19, 2008 - 08:30 ET by pbanks7"This liberal is gonna be all about sociali--- uh, er, ..." -- Maxine Waters.
MSM - shaping all the perceptions you need to believe.
military retraining required
June 18, 2008 - 17:47 ET by wizardjrAfter Barry is elected, all military personnel will have to cycle through France for proper training in modern, correct, approved warfare. White flags will be handed out at the door in exchange for weapons. We wouldn't want any loaded firearms going off during the 'throw them down and run' phase so wooden replicas will be issued.
Phase II will be intensive training in International Meals On Wheels.
wizardjr, That reminds me
June 18, 2008 - 18:25 ET by hydrodynDMwizardjr,
That reminds me of an old joke about a guy who put an advertisement in a local paper...
"French rifle for sale. Never fired. Dropped only once."
hydro... LMAO... Well
June 18, 2008 - 18:34 ET by bigtimerhydro...
LMAO... Well now... that was a preciously precise post.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
I have heard that joke
June 18, 2008 - 20:21 ET by DEVILDOCMOMbefore, but I still really like it. It is quite appropriate here.
BTW, when is this show of Laura's on? I would like to see it, she is the best.
French Tank
June 18, 2008 - 21:59 ET by SemperrightI like,
The French have developed a new tank,
It has 4 reverse gears and one forward gear (in case the enemy gets behind them)
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference.
The MARINES don't have that problem."
President Ronald Reagan - 1985
Yet another reason to trust Obama, NOT
June 18, 2008 - 18:07 ET by wdhorningNeed I say more?
off topic, but...
June 18, 2008 - 18:11 ET by SickofLibsA black woman, name of Dr. Rice, doctorate in polysci, senior foreign policy advisor?
What is this, Groundhog Day?
They say we're young and we
June 18, 2008 - 18:13 ET by Mark FinkelsteinThey say we're young and we don't know
We won't find out until we grow.
Well I don't know if all
June 18, 2008 - 18:20 ET by SickofLibsWell I don't know if all that's true
'Cause you got me, and baby I got you
(well, not literally)
...I Got You Babe!
June 18, 2008 - 18:32 ET by bigtimer...I Got You Babe!
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
Fudging...I call it
June 18, 2008 - 18:19 ET by bigtimerFudging...I call it outright lying....and of course the msm is going to ignore this...he is their new messiah.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
This "JUST IN"
June 18, 2008 - 18:34 ET by coffee260I really like Laura's new show. I believe it's going to be a hit.
I agree. She will smack
June 18, 2008 - 19:52 ET by celatorI agree. She will smack these propagandists every time they put their foot in their mouth. She's great!
Smart and beautiful
June 19, 2008 - 02:14 ET by AgentAmericanLaura is a very intelligent woman that would make Keithamphetamine cry. Plus, she's cute.
Drill ANWAR
Obama is weak on foreign policy
June 18, 2008 - 18:39 ET by GalvanicObama and crew don't have a clue when it comes to foreign policy. McCain got it right when he noted that Obama is ready to talk unconditionally to dictators, but hasn't bothered to talk to GEN Petraeus about the situation in Iraq --- which he hadn't visited in over 800 days.
Pewah
June 18, 2008 - 19:09 ET by PewahOf course Obama doesn't have a clue about foreign policy. All he is going to do when he gets in is follow the dictates of the nutty leftists that ushered him to power and pay them back for their support. What the Cons need to do now is beat this drum up until election day and don't let the voters forget how accomodating he plans to be to those who want to kill us. By the way, did you catch that idiot Huckabee mouthing off over in Tokyo today about how the Cons had better not smear Obama or it would blow up in their faces?! Yeah, thanks for the sage advice Mike. We'll just be polite through November and hope that it just happens to occur to the electorate that the chosen one is clueless.
Not only has he not talked
June 18, 2008 - 19:57 ET by celatorNot only has he not talked to Gen Petraeus, he has absolutely refused to meet one on one with him. Obama wants to have tea and crumpets with every anti-America dictator in the world and apologize to them for how America treats dictators. But meet with a real American hero who knows exactly what is happening in Iraq? Naw, not so much.
Oh, I think Obama has a
June 18, 2008 - 20:10 ET by celatorOh, I think Obama has a foreign policy. And it ain't good.
Re: Obama's foreign policy
June 19, 2008 - 08:35 ET by pbanks7It probably requires a willing suspension of disbelief.
MSM - shaping all the perceptions you need to believe.
Wait just a sec.. First
June 18, 2008 - 18:54 ET by RukusWait just a sec..
First its:
SUSAN RICE: The foreign minister understood Senator Obama's position about a withdr-- a responsible redeployment.
Then its:
RICE: I wasn't on the call. But no, frankly, Laura, it's the
Iraqi government that has said they don't want permanent U.S. bases,
they don't want the American...
She knew the conversation then suddenly she didn't??
I'm getting dizzy... this stuff is scary! God save us all!
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
Good catch, Rukus!!
June 18, 2008 - 18:59 ET by Mark FinkelsteinGood catch, Rukus!!
pretty simple,
June 19, 2008 - 01:39 ET by gordonpretty simple, really
Susan Rice is a liar and is talking out of both sides of her face.
I guarantee that minister won't appreciate having our troops wave goodbye as the terrorists knot the rope for his "trial".
Darn I missed Laura 's show
June 18, 2008 - 19:01 ET by allamericangirlI did see Susan Rice on the Morning Joe show.
Joe got her pretty good also. She seems easily confused.
When asked if we should thank President Bush for keeping us safe since 911 she said no we should thank God.
So it is not President Bush's policies (she called them Stupid) that have kept us safe but God.
So why bother with a new Obama plan unless she thinks God will stop protecting us when President Bush is out of office.
Her logic is that we need to change the things that have kept us attack free (Bushes' stupid policies) even though they are working and continue to work.
I always heard that if it isn't broke don't fix it.
She seems easily confused
June 18, 2008 - 20:44 ET by FairlightShe seems easily confused because she's just as inexperienced as Obama. This staff is so budget it's as if they hired everybody while thumbing through the Berkeley Penny Saver.
Berkeley Penny Saver
June 19, 2008 - 11:48 ET by allamericangirlI think I did see her resume in the Penny Saver.
Gullible liberal minority woman willing to say anything to get Obama elected
Obama continues to amaze us
June 18, 2008 - 19:17 ET by marvlObama continues to amaze us with both his lack of experience and accomplishment and his ability to surround himself with the same kind of inept amateurs as himself. This is truly worrisome. At least Willy was Slick. What are we going to dub Obama? Boneheaded Barry? Odamna, Where's My Teleprompter?
How about...
June 18, 2008 - 19:27 ET by RukusBarr Ach Obamapromter!
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
Obama
June 18, 2008 - 20:27 ET by Emma GrumpCould we say that a victory for Obama would result in an "Obama-Nation"?
I can see it now... I'll
June 18, 2008 - 20:38 ET by RukusI can see it now... I'll raise taxes on all succesful Americans and there will be teleprompters for ALL!!!
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
Irgraham nails her good. The
June 18, 2008 - 20:49 ET by Biff McCainIrgraham nails her good. The American people want to spread the freedumb in Iraq for 100 years.
"Burn that mother down." -- Jimmy Ellis
Biffy... Freedumb.... Ho
June 18, 2008 - 21:00 ET by bigtimerBiffy...
Freedumb....
How old are you..and how ungrateful and insolent can you be you ungrateful SOB to our military who have fought and died for the Iraqis to finally have freedom...after decades...and still most likely wondering what will happen in the end, because of the enemy within msm and our wonderful leftist party?
Let alone protecting you and those you love the freedom of speech, let alone your very life to be typing the ungrateful tripe you are?
You make me sick.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
Thank you BT! You saved
June 18, 2008 - 21:47 ET by RukusThank you BT!
You saved me a lot of typing!
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
Big,
June 18, 2008 - 21:55 ET by Biff McCainI'm old enough to know no one needed to protect me from the Iraqi
people. And the response to 9-11 that Bush found in "My Pet Goat" was
all wrong.
When did you convert to Nation Bildin'?
"Burn that mother down." -- Jimmy Ellis
Biffy... Yur simpler than
June 18, 2008 - 21:58 ET by bigtimerBiffy...
Yur simpler than I thot.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
And if Saddam had been able
June 18, 2008 - 22:15 ET by RukusAnd if Saddam had been able to get nukes you don't think he'd have any problem stickin' one right up yer arse if he could? Maybe you should go over to the Middle East and see what a lot of people think about you regardless of your hate Bush jabber! Can't yak much with yer head and body on different sides of the street! Fortunately a lot of folks over there are GLAD for their new freedoms, unlike some ungrateful trolls here!
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
"Fortunately a lot of folks
June 18, 2008 - 22:40 ET by Biff McCain"Fortunately a lot of folks over there are GLAD for their new freedoms,"
And we're almost bankrupt (a la USSR) with $4 gas for it.
Iraqi freedumb--- priceless. So what if there never was any WMD or terrorists.
"Burn that mother down." -- Jimmy Ellis
Biff... Evidently you
June 18, 2008 - 22:42 ET by Clear thinkerBiff...
Evidently you have not been paying attention.
"Abstain from McCain"
Does Biffless even read the
June 18, 2008 - 22:50 ET by RukusDoes Biffless even read the replies? Clueless. BTW, should he even be up this late? Mommy must be proud!
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
You Biffy...are a
June 18, 2008 - 22:50 ET by bigtimerYou Biffy...are a leftist simpleton troll...the whole problem we have in this country for four dollar a gallon gas prices...thirty plus years worth...
I would do anything if I could make you and your brethren disappear....this country, let alone the world would be happy.
Sing with me Sunshine...Walk with me World, it's a skippedy do-da-day.... ;-)
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
LOL! Priceless BT. "it's
June 18, 2008 - 22:53 ET by RukusLOL!
Priceless BT. "it's a skippedy do-da-day." LOL!
Telling our age are we?? Love it!
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
Bigtime, you sound like Hitler!
June 19, 2008 - 16:40 ET by Biff McCain"I would do anything if I could make you and your brethren disappear....this country, let alone the world would be happy."
That's what Hitler did to the folks he thought were not good Germans, remember?
"Burn that mother down." -- Jimmy Ellis
Hold on Biff... "Iraqi
June 18, 2008 - 22:56 ET by Clear thinkerHold on Biff...
"Iraqi freedumb--- priceless. So what if there never was any WMD or terrorists."
Just exactly what do you have against Iraqi's, or anyone for that matter, attaining freedom?
Do you think since you live in a free country that only you (or us) deserves it?
"Abstain from McCain"
Lib talking point folks:
June 18, 2008 - 23:03 ET by RukusLib talking point folks: fairness to ALL!
We have it (the freedoms) so they (the "used to be" oppressed) should have it too!
Where are the libs now?? Fair is fair right guys?
Oh, that's right, Iraqi's don't vote in our elections. Sorry, brain fart!
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
So what if there never was any WMD or terrorists.
June 18, 2008 - 23:05 ET by Free StinkerSo what if there never was any WMD or terrorists.
So what if you are ignorant? I can fix that!
Saddam Hussein used Chemical weapon against the Iranians, Kurds, and Marsh Arabs; attacked 6 nations (Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Qatar, and Bahrain); violated the terms of the Gulf War surrender, planned the assasination of a former U.S. President, collaborated with and harbored terrorists; and was – according to The New York Times - one year away from building and Atomic Bomb before he was finally overthrown.
You really expect him to
June 18, 2008 - 23:09 ET by RukusYou really expect him to read all that?? Not a chance!
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
Products of liberal Run Schools!
June 19, 2008 - 07:30 ET by ChasvsThey can't read anyway so don't expect them to try.
And even if one of them happened to learn to read, they have no context in which to understand what they are reading. Given the Liberal view that we are nothing but a racist and immoral country.
Liberals are nothing but EVIL. They consitute the biggest threat to our survival!
FS... ...Excellent
June 18, 2008 - 23:11 ET by bigtimerFS...
...Excellent links...Unfortunately leftist trolls like this piece of work will ignore all of them...it matters not to them.
They just eat the pages...it's their little leftist job...it's what they do.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
Yup BT,
June 18, 2008 - 23:15 ET by RESTLESS 1Liberals. You can't live with them, and you can't cut'em up for bait and tell the neighbors they went fishin'.
"This
liberal would be all about socialize -- uh, uh, would be about
basically taking over and the government running all of your companies."-Maxine Waters 2008
Well, uh, maybe you could
June 18, 2008 - 23:25 ET by RukusWell, uh, maybe you could just say they cut and run? I'm just sayin'...
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
Biff McCain: Perhaps you
June 19, 2008 - 11:31 ET by BDBiff McCain:
Perhaps you could propose what you believe the cente rof gravity for our enemy in the GWOT is at the Strategic level?
I am waiting breathlessly to hear what it might be, and how you propose to effect it.
Fine
June 19, 2008 - 18:25 ET by BigBGeeze...I think you made him cry.....
I hope you're all proud of yourselves....
Just run upstairs Biff, Mom's got some sugars for ya...
Now, this might sting just a little bit.....
Pathetic bordering on
June 19, 2008 - 00:23 ET by Atomic CrusaderPathetic bordering on obscene, absolutely disgraceful. Thoughtless, meaningless nonsense. Laura tried to help her out at the end there but of course she didn't "get it." That gal has a serious case of malaise.
I'm off to horizontel zzz
June 19, 2008 - 00:31 ET by RukusI'm off to horizontel zzz land, gotta get up an do that free enterprise
thing in the AM. Take care all, that goes for the trolls too. Have a
blessed night!
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
Making it Up As They Go!
June 19, 2008 - 07:25 ET by ChasvsHey, What do you expect from a Liberal? They are so twisted in their policies that they can do nothing more than make it up as they go!
They make one policy decision and then have to react to the results. Normally by blaming others for the failure and then instituting another sure to fail policy.
If you want change, go to the news stand and ask for it. If you want a secure future VOTE Republican!
It's the Iraqi government
June 19, 2008 - 08:51 ET by pbanks7It's the Iraqi government that has said they don't want permanent U.S. bases, they don't want the American ... the U.S. military to stay in their country indefinitely.
This is like saying, "The troops want to come home." Well, DUH! What soldier doesn't want to come home? The proper question is whether the soldiers want to stay longer and come home victorious, or come home now and lose? Do the Iraqis want us to leave now and have anarchy, or to stay until they have stability?
Give victory a chance.
MSM - shaping all the perceptions you need to believe.
Angry
June 19, 2008 - 10:13 ET by capitolguyDoes anyone else notice that when Susan Rice appears on talk shows, she is angry? When she answers questions, she seems to have the underlying tone of "how dare you ask me specific questions about the senator's positions! We're entitled to a free pass here". She probably hates this country just like Michelle Obama, contrary to her "makeover" attempt on The (liberal) View yesterday. If Obama wins this election, God help us all.
Ditto!
June 19, 2008 - 10:32 ET by SAM-OHI pick up a Maryland accent from her, which I usally find appealing, but coming from someone with such a sour disposition, it is grating.
I enjoyed watching her best after the Jeremiah Wright appearance at the National Press Club. In an interview, it appeared as if she'd been crying, and she seem to be holding back the tears. Andrea ("I'm in the tank, so don't bother asking") Mitchell observed that day that Rice was very upset.
I get the sense that, regardless of Obama's lack of qualifications, Rice has SO much invested in him that she's likely to become unhinged at any moment.