The Gamut

Yahoo! News - Bremer Takes Back Statements About Bush

"I regret any suggestion to the contrary. In fact, I have since learned that President Bush had shared some of these frustrations, and had initiated a more direct and comprehensive approach to confronting terrorism consistent with the threats outlined in the National Commission report.

"I am strongly supportive and grateful for the President's leadership and strategy in combating terrorism and protecting American national security throughout his first term in office."

This statement by Paul Bremer was in response to a statement also made by Bremer while delivering the keynote speech at the Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation's three-day conference February 26, 2001 on the theme "Terrorism: Informing the Public." Bremmer said, "The new administration seems to be paying no attention to the problem of terrorism. What they will do is stagger along until there's a major incident and then suddenly say, 'Oh, my God, shouldn't we be organized to deal with this?' That's too bad. They've been given a window of opportunity with very little terrorism now, and they're not taking advantage of it. Maybe the folks in the press ought to be pushing a little bit."

But does Bremer's taking-back the statement change anything? He was right then. His retracting it now doesn't change history.

I'm reminded of a scene from "A Fish Called Wanda"

[Otto dangles Archie out a window.]
Archie: All right, all right, I apologize.
Otto: You're really sorry.
Archie: I'm really really sorry, I apologize unreservedly.
Otto: You take it back.
Archie: I do, I offer a complete and utter retraction. The imputation was totally without basis in fact, and was in no way fair comment, and was motivated purely by malice, and I deeply regret any distress that my comments may have caused you, or your family, and I hereby undertake not to repeat any such slander at any time in the future.
Otto: OK.

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