Rep. Jim McDermott had his name scrawled on the John
O'Neill Wall of Heroes some time ago...Here is another
brave statement from this principled politician,
patriot, and, oh yes, decorated war veteran...
Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) quoted in Associated Press: Asked again if he meant to imply the Bush administration timed the capture for political reasons, McDermott said: "I don't know that it was definitely planned on this weekend, but I know they've been in contact with people all along who knew basically where he was. It was just a matter of time till they'd find him. "It's funny," McDermott added, "when they're having all this trouble, suddenly they have to roll out something."
Remember, again, here are some talking points (the
only ones you'll need) for the next few days:
1. Saddam (monsterous as his actions have been) did
not kill thousands of innocent US citizens on 9/11
2. No WMDs have been found in Iraq (you were told
there were tens of thousands of tons of them, you were
told they could be delivered in 45 minutes)
3. Over 400 US soldiers have been killed already in
Iraq, and many thousands injured, some maimed for life
4. Al-Qaeda, which did kill thousands of innocent US
citizens on 9/11 is stronger today than it was a year
ago (because the _resident has fed the fire, lost the
good will of the world and redirected vital resources
to his foolish military adventure in Iraq)
The _resident LIED, and over 400 US soldiers have DIED
-- and this country is more vulnnerable today, not
less...
Support Our Troops, Show Up for Democracy in 2004:
Defeat Bush (again!)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=6420&slug=WA%20Saddam%20McDermott
Monday, December 15, 2003 · Last updated 4:45 p.m. PT
GOP criticizes McDermott over Saddam comments
By MATTHEW DALY
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
WASHINGTON -- Rep. Jim McDermott, who drew headlines
across the globe last year for criticizing President Bush while in Baghdad, is enmeshed in a new controversy over remarks he made about the capture of Saddam Hussein.
In an interview Monday with Seattle's KIRO-AM Radio,
McDermott said the U.S. military could have found the
former Iraqi dictator "a long time ago if they
wanted."
Asked by host Dave Ross if he thought the weekend
capture was timed to help Bush, McDermott chuckled and
said, "Yeah, oh yeah."
McDermott went on to say, "There's too much by
happenstance for it to be just a coincidental thing."
Asked again if he meant to imply the Bush
administration timed the capture for political
reasons, McDermott said: "I don't know that it was
definitely planned on this weekend, but I know they've
been in contact with people all along who knew
basically where he was. It was just a matter of time
till they'd find him. "It's funny," McDermott added,
"when they're having all this trouble, suddenly they
have to roll out something."
State Republicans immediately condemned McDermott's
remarks, saying the Seattle Democrat again was
engaging in "crazy talk" about the Iraq war.
"Once again McDermott has embarrassed this state with
his irresponsible ranting," GOP state Chairman Chris
Vance said in a news release. "Calling on him to
apologize is useless, but I call on other Democrats to
let the public know if they agree with McDermott."
Last year, Vance and other Republicans labeled
McDermott "Baghdad Jim," for comments he made, during
a trip to Baghdad, that President Bush "would mislead
the American people" but that Saddam could be trusted.
On Monday, criticism of McDermott was bipartisan.
"With all due respect to my colleague, that is a
fantasy," Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., told Ross after
McDermott's comments were aired. "That just is not
right. ... It's one thing to criticize this
administration for having done this war. I mean,
that's a fair question. But to criticize them on the
capture of Saddam, when it's such a big thing to our
troops, is just ridiculous."
McDermott, in a Monday telephone interview with The
Associated Press, called the timing of Saddam's
capture suspicious, but said he did not mean it had
been intentionally delayed.
"Everything was going wrong, and they got a real
Christmas gift, if you will, in that the troops did a
magnificent job and found" Saddam, McDermott said.
Asked again if he thought Bush timed the capture for
political benefit, McDermott said, "All I know is
people have got to be skeptical about what is
happening here, because these (American) kids are
still dying, and as long as that is happening we're in
a world of hurt."
His earlier statements referred to the 12-hour gap
between the time Bush learned of the successful raid
and the announcement by the military the following
day, McDermott said. The delay kept the news about
Saddam out of the Sunday papers.
"It sounded like he knew about it on Saturday, but
didn't release it until Sunday. That had, apparently,
to do with news cycles. That's all I was talking
about," he said.
---
Associated Press Writer Elizabeth M. Gillespie also
contributed to this report.