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Fifth Column
Best of Boucher’s War of Words
2004-04-20
In several weeks of reading and watching Richard Boucher’s daily battle against a pack of hyenas the press correspondents, I have begun to be amazed by a man who can go out each day and quietly resist being tripped up on the difference between a "central" and a "vital" role for the UN in Iraq. I am amazed at the sheer number of times that he can calmly clarify as Iraq is a country of Iraqis, they must have "the central" role in Iraq. Boucher is either very into Yoga or heavily medicated. Unless Fred cans these posts, I will try to post the best excerpts from his briefing under this heading. Here is a sample:
QUESTION: Is it correct that you are not deeply troubled about the death, about the killing of Mr. -- Dr. Rantisi? And if you’re not, why were you deeply troubled by Sheikh Yassin’s killing? Is it a question of how much influence you think these people have? I mean, presumably, if the Israelis made good on the threats, dubious threats that were out there to kill Arafat, you would come out and condemn it since he seems to be the only person -- the only Palestinian leader that you’re firmly opposed to Israel targeting. Why different language for Rantisi than Yassin?
MR. BOUCHER: I’m not quite sure what the difference between deeply troubled and gravely concerned is. I’ll have to check with my experts on that one. I wouldn’t draw too fine a --

QUESTION: Well, deeply troubled referred specifically to the killing of Sheikh Yassin and deep -- and you’re troubled --
MR. BOUCHER: Gravely concerned about the consequences --

QUESTION: I mean gravely concerned refers to --
MR. BOUCHER: -- about regional peace and stability. I’m not going to try to draw any large distinction between the two. In this case, we point a little more towards the effects, and I think last time, if you’ll remember, the briefings we did here we talked specifically about the consequences. And that’s virtually the same thing.
Posted by:Super Hose

#3  Plus Rummy can deliver that kind of a line with the Dual Striking Viper technique.

Boucher's real nemesis is Joel Mowbray, who actually does his homework on the State Dept's disgraceful toadying to the House of Sod. The other reporters can bleat all day about the UN, while Mowbray moves in for the kill.
Posted by: Seafarious   2004-04-20 6:33:39 PM  

#2  Yeah, that kind of retort is Rummy's shtick.
Posted by: Robert Crawford   2004-04-20 4:37:18 PM  

#1  Boucher was there a long time. Lots of experience. In Bush I, during Iraq I, he had not so much gray hair.

Of course, being with the State Department, he cant say, "No stupid, vital and central are different things. Look it up in Meriam Webster."
Posted by: Anonymous4052   2004-04-20 4:36:15 PM  

00:01