Flip-floppin' Condi: "error" remarks meant "figuratively, not literally"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Rice: Don't take Iraq errors 'literally'
U.S. secretary of state visits England amid anti-war protests

Saturday, April 1, 2006; Posted: 10:39 a.m. EST (15:39 GMT)

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/04/01/uk.rice.straw/index.html

BLACKBURN, England (CNN) -- One day after Condoleezza Rice said the United States made possibly "thousands" of tactical mistakes in the war against Iraq, the secretary of state says she was speaking "figuratively, not literally."

About 300 protesters -- most of them upset about the war in Iraq -- and two dozen supporters greeted Rice outside the town hall in Blackburn, the home of her counterpart, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.

The two faced reporters at midday after attending a multi-faith service at Blackburn Cathedral and meeting with the city's Muslim leaders. About 20 percent of Blackburn's population is Muslim.

In a speech Friday at an event organized by the Chatham House think tank, Rice said, "I am quite certain there are going to be dissertations written about the mistakes of the Bush administration."



Jack Straw and Condoleezza Rice meet reporters in Blackburn.

[Inland]

1. IOW, it's one thousand and one now. Figuratively. Understand?

Me neither. Who the fuck let her out of the country?

[wtmusic]

3. LOL exactly

Which kind of errors get people killed -- literal or figurative? She's just way over my head.

[Inland]

5. She'll say anything.

She thinks calling the errors many tactical errors instead of one whopping strategic error (going to war) is a huge political jiujitsu that stifles criticism, but nobody is on the same page. Nobody gets the point, because like you said, it's people killed, and nobody knows what the fuck she is trying to excuse.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

12. i think the actual "figure" is about 3.000 isn't it?

With the number of American deaths in Iraq rising at such a rapid rate, I keep losing count. How many more must die in an occupation that can never bring democracy to Iraq or equality and freedom to Afghanistan?

[saltpoint]

2. So are the thousands of Iraqi citizens killed or maimed in the U.S.

assault on their country literally or figuratively killed or maimed?

Just asking, Dr. Rice.

[DanCa]

4. Flip Flop and Fly

I think Condi's been having shots of rock and rye.

[Paulo_s News]

6. I don't think anyone could have anticipated...

...thousands of errors being made. Figurative errors, of course.

Um, what?

[Sal Minella]

7. Great post.

Wish I'd said that.

[pdxmom]

8. It's incredibly disturbing to me that the person who is supposed

to be our head diplomat, the person who is our representative to other countries, is admitting to using inexact, figurative language in her dealings with others. This sends a horrible, horrible message to others. Just more proof that other countries can't trust that what this administration is saying is really what they mean.

[tanyev]

9. Oh, dear. Karen's going to have to parachute in and pull her to safety.

[Inland]

11. Hah! I had the same thought.

The British are raising their hands and saying, "Um, is Karen Hughes available to explain that one?"

[racaulk]

10. Hey, Condi, what are these?