Insurgents aim to influence U.S. vote, official says (Armitage)

[VolcanoJen]

I searched LBN, and although this story came out yesterday, I couldn't find it. This has to be the most disgusting thing yet out of this asshole's mouth.

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/politics/9693860.htm

WASHINGTON - (KRT) - Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage alleged Friday that insurgents have stepped up their deadly assaults in Iraq because they want to "influence the election against President Bush," a statement that drew a sharp condemnation from the campaign of Democratic challenger Sen. John Kerry.

<snip>

Earlier Friday, however, the State Department had deleted Armitage's most direct comments on the issue from the official transcript of the news conference. That was done after a preliminary version of the remarks that included the statements was sent to some officials and journalists.

After Armitage had apparently ended the news conference by saying, "Thank you very much," a reporter asked him to clarify his statement linking the violence in Iraq to the elections, according to the transcript.

"It's quite obvious that they would like to raise (the) costs to President Bush. I think this is their cynical effort to do that and to somehow influence our elections, and they will fail," Armitage said.

"They are trying to influence the election against President Bush," he added.

Asked whether he meant that insurgents or terrorists were working for Kerry, Armitage replied, "I didn't say that. What I said was that they were trying to influence the election against President Bush."

[bahrbearian]

1. I'm certain that they feel the need to vote,in our elections.

Thats what they have been working at , for 18 months.

[VolcanoJen]

3. Oh, absolutely.

I'm sure that the Iraqis think about the US elections 24/7, when not being blown up, shot at, or burying their children.

:eyes:

I just can't believe this kind of vile spew comes from the "leadership" of our once-great nation. I'd be embarrassed, if I weren't so disgusted.

[2Design]

2. crock of sh**

[PermanentRevolution]

4. I mentioned it...

in a couple of threads, but I don't have the post count to start my own yet. I hoped someone else would pick up on this, because it really is just a completely deranged statement.

The insurgents don't care about being occupied by a foreign power. They don't care about airstrikes in civillian areas. They don't care that their country is being sold to no-contract bidders piece by piece. Because what they really want is to get Kerry elected.

Sometimes outrage just doesn't cut it...

[alcuno]

8. Unbelievable isn't it? Like they are all watching cable when not

conducting their insurgency.

'VOTE FOR BUSH OR DIE" That's their platform.

[VolcanoJen]

12. I would actually believe comments like this would lead to Bush's defeat...

... if the mass media was actually reporting the Bush Cabal's delusional view of events on the ground in Iraq.

We have got to tell everyone what is really fucking happening over there! Christiane Amanpour did an excellent job of this on Bill Maher's program last night, but her employer, CNN, has spent most of the afternoon reporting on the next big storm, and the Jacko/Kobe/Peterson cases.

I'm certain that if CNN had footage of a cute little gerbil waterskiing, they'd pre-empt their Scott Peterson coverage with round-the-clock video of a rodent. I am absolutely serious.

[VolcanoJen]

23. Welcome to DU, PermanentRevolution!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Judi Lynn]

5. They are probably hoping Kerry would raise taxes on the wealthiest

2%, and provide a decent national health care program, and less expensive drugs.

They are from satan, no doubt, those pesky insurgents. No wonder _Bush has arranged ways for us to destroy them.



You know we can trust Richard Armitage. His record speaks for itself!

[mzmolly]

6. Gosh ... you mean they don't appreciate the "LIBERATION" ?!?!?

I'm totally shocked and utterly confused ... where's the gratitude ? :eyes:

[joefree1]

7. Why, Bush is the best thing that ever happen to the Insurgents

I really think this is why America has been attacked since 911. Bush is the best recruiter the terrorist have ever had.

[geek tragedy]

9. They are afraid of Bush's "Ownership society" wherein

Bush owns their society.

The Repubs should rename their party to the American Fascist Party.

[saigon68]

10. ARMITAGE = WAR CRIMINAL

A quick Google will show what this thug did to aid corrupt right wing military Dictatorships in Latin America, who killed thousands of their citizens.

He is a Darling of extremist hate right wing radio.

[Ron Green]

24. I'm not mad about his tailor, either....n/t

[IndianaGreen]

11. The insurgents want the US out of Iraq and our puppet Allawi toppled

When you have American bombs landing on your head, the least of your worries is what happens in the US elections.

[cal04]

13. Is this why the reporter on video was killed?

showing what really went on that day and every other day.


The latest strikes, which capped a week of intense air bombardments directed at the rebel Fallujah region, perfectly encapsulate the dilemmas facing US ground commanders. Initial reports suggest that some 60 "foreign fighters" were killed in the precision air operations.

But Al-Jazeera and other Arab television networks carried footage of civilian dead. Doctors at Fallujah hospital said 16 civilians were killed in the attacks, including women and children. As is so often the case, US and Arab audiences are receiving completely different information about different facets of the same war. Arab and Iraqi viewers hear of deaths among their own people, while US officials speak of shadowy terrorists loyal to Jordanian-born al-Qa'ida leader Musab al-Zarqawi.

According to information provided by US commanders, air strikes were called in after it was determined 90 foreign fighters had assembled at a "Zarqawist" meeting place in the small town near Fallujah.


http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,10798408^401,00.html

[VolcanoJen]

14. I think you're really onto something, cal04. (n/t)

[Disturbed]

15. al-Zarqawi

Air strikes on Iran nuke sites will be carried out. The announcement will be that al-Zarqawi and his followers were suspected being there.

[moondust]

16. Bad logic, Richard.

The insurgents control a considerable chunk of Iraq despite all King George's men and their far superior weapons systems. And the "bad guys" appear to be gaining momentum. They'd be crazy to trade what they have going for them now for an "enemy" who is a smart, fearless war hero whose political fortunes do not depend almost entirely on fighting terrorists.

[struggle4progress]

17. And by the same logic, Bushco invaded Iraq to influence US elections. eom

[Just Me]

18. Being the "insurgent" against democracy that you are, Armitage,...

,...I guess you would know.

Armitage's appearance is bloated, pasty and soft on the outside reflecting the complete void of compassion or humanity on the inside. I can hardly tolerate just looking at him,...GROSS!!!

[AnnInLa]

19. Armitage was not the first one to say that....

I reported on this bit of rove-vomit over a week ago here in several threads. First, on the Tweety show, a repuke(can't remember his name) told Tweety the escalation of violence in Iraq was due to the terrorists trying to influence our Nov 2nd election. To his credit, Tweety jumped down his throat, by saying, "Terrorists? What terrorists, who exactly are you talking about....don't use that term to me!" I was impressed with Tweety as that moment, but it didn't last long. Also heard that same talking point on another interview on MSNBC over a week ago, and I reported it here.

[saigon68]

20. They won't admit that its " The Armed Iraqi Resistance Forces"

just dead enders.-- Haven't heard that shit for a while

[Democat]

21. Bush is running the most corrupt campaign in U.S. history!

Bush is using the full power of the U.S. government, including the military, to try to beat Kerry in an election.

This is beyond corruption, it's criminal.

[VolcanoJen]

22. KICK!! Too important to miss, y'all.

:D

[Gyre]

25. This disgusting little troll

Can GO CHENEY HIMSELF! Wooden stake's got his name on it. :grr:

Gyre

[VolcanoJen]

26. Why in the hell isn't this headline news, ya know?

It's so frustrating, competing with thunderstorms and designer-raincoat-wearing "reporters" and what-not.

:eyes:

[Miss Authoritiva]

27. Well, in addition to all the usual distractions --

like weekly hurricanes, Macaulay Culkin's drug bust, the Miss America pageant, and noon to midnight college football games -- the media also had to contend with several different versions of the press conference transcript:

"Earlier Friday, however, the State Department had deleted Armitage's most direct comments on the issue from the official transcript of the news conference. That was done after a preliminary version of the remarks that included the statements was sentto some officials and journalists."

<snip>

"State Department officials said the remarks were deleted because Armitage's comments came after the news conference and there was no intention to hide the statements. The remarks were restored by Friday night to the official version of the transcript posted on the State Department's Web site."

My sympathies to the fact-checkers of the world!

[VolcanoJen]

28. I do hope fact-checkers-o-the-world get health insurance.

They surely deserve it.

And, the State Department's deletion of Armitage's offensive comments from the "official" transcript is pretty much Bush-n-Co's way. Maybe that's why the CNN Geniuses are ignoring this issue, eh?

GOD it's so FRUSTRATING. I've been so irritated and angry today...

[Cocoa]

31. scrubbing is SO the Bush administration

they scrubbed Cheney's comments too.

And how many times has a Bush official flatly denied saying something that the record shows they certainly said? Too many to count...

[LynnTheDem]

29. neocons have already more than proven they're total idiots

So WHY would anyone bother with anything these idiots have to say?

Flowers and choccie...Iraq oil to pay for everything...they'll greet us as liberators..."WMD" just littering the ground...

The exact opposite of what every expert, every thinktank, every intell agency warned, and the exact opposite of reality on the ground.

bush; bliar; Cartel; rightwingnuts; they're STUPID, they're WRONG, they're IDIOTS. And only a fool would bother listening to a word any of them say.

[gatlingforme]

30. Pretty soon the Repub. will be calling the Dems insurgents. eom

[Toots]

32. Could anyone blame them.... The entire world despises Bush*

especially the Iraqi people. I.m sure they would do anything and everything to try and influence the American people to come back to Sanity and dump the War Criminals. The Republican Party has become a Party of Thugs. They used to be a proud Party with high morals and fiscal discipline.