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Return to Article: Powell: Erroneous terrorism report 'very embarrassing'

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  Anyone who doesn't go to the Kerry BBQ is a bigger fool than all of the fools that voted for the current administration in 2000.

  Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me!

  Stan Posted June 17, 2004 8:37 AM
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  "The State Department in April released its 2003 "Patterns of Global Terrorism" report, which claimed that the number of terrorist incidents has been on the decline over the past three years and that last's years count, 190, represented the lowest reported total since 1969. U.S. officials at the time trumpeted the report as evidence that the United States was winning the war on terrorism."

  Late last month, however, two U.S. academics published an opinion piece in The Washington Post criticizing the State Department for mischaracterizing the information in the report.

  This is all too familiar for this administration, if, a psychologist analyzed this type of behavior, he would diagnose it as, "Cognitive Dissonance," which is the tendency of human beings to reinterpret reality so it remains consistent with their beliefs. In other words, if a lie is caught, change your statement to fit the lie, with excuses.

  Lawrence D. Pierce Posted June 16, 2004 11:58 AM
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  Now it is starting to make sense, when Bush classifies things it is not to protect the country from terrorists, it is to cover up his lying and inability to protect the country in an honest manner. He has to lie to tell his story and hopefully he will keep his job if everyone would just believe him.

  Don't look at the bad just look at the good things that are going on. Trust ME!!!

  I am beginning to think I will go to the barbecue with John Kerry.

  GovExec.com reader Posted June 15, 2004 2:03 PM
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  "He denied any "political" motivations behind the incorrect numbers in the report, and instead blamed the error on poor "data collecting and reporting" procedures." No da! Of course when he is caught he will deny any political motivation. He is political and all his motives are political - that is his job. Now he denies doing his job?

  "I don't think there was anything political or policy-driven about it. It was just data that was incorrect or it wasn't properly measured compared to the way it was measured in previous years," Powell said." It's just data? That sounds a lot like weapons of mass destruction! Remember that one. This administration lies so much they don't even think it is important to tell the truth - its just data! Where are those over paid SES guys that were supposed to proof the release? How could they miss this just data error? This is an attempt to make the administration look like they are winning a war that they are not winning. In fact they are fanning the flames.

  "During an appearance on ABC's "This Week With George Stephanopoulos," though, Powell seemingly defended the main thrust of the report - that terrorism still poses a threat to international security." Boy this is brilliant! Of course terrorism poses a threat - it always has and it always will! What does he think the Boston Tea Party was? Is it not terror when you do it? Just when someone does it to you? Terrorism is not the problem! The problem is how the terrorism is directed.

  The British terrorized the USA in the Boston Massacre but the USA were heroes in the Boston Tea Party. The minutemen were terrorists fighting the government but to us they are heroes. Terrorism is in the eye of the beholder and the administration should get rid of the idea of terrorism and start focusing on the issues! Terrorism is not the issue; the issue is the reason for terrorism! The USA bases terrorism on how it is directed not on what it is in terms of action. Drug dealers are terrorists and we do little to stop them. Illegal aliens are terrorists and we allow them to stay or even to come and go as if they were citizens.

  "If you read the report, though, the report makes it clear that terror is a continuing problem. We didn't say it had gone away," he said. It appears that he didn't read the report!

  tax payer Posted June 15, 2004 6:52 AM