"I hate to say it but there are some things in the papers that are inaccurate" (Wolfowitz)

Department of Defense ^ | April 18, 2003 | Press Conference

[WaterDragon]

I hope it's okay to post this transcript. Wolfowitz gives the reporters one of the best lectures on the development of democracy in Third World nations I've ever heard. Wolfowitz' statements of American intent in Iraq are terrific.

[antaresequity]

bttt

[TopQuark]

Many thanks: very nice post.

[WaterDragon]

I'm glad you liked it, too.

[dixiechick2000]

"Wolfowitz gives the reporters one of the best lectures on the development of democracy in Third World nations I've ever heard."

It's one of the best I've ever heard, too.

Thanks for posting it!

[Theresa]

Wolfie says: "I can give you a list of things we really worried about that didn't happen and I think in large measure you will find because of the speed with which we moved. Now that speed also meant that certain things couldn't be taken care of right away. The looting is something that is a great loss, but we are stabilizing the situation."

Well at least he did not try to WHITEWASH the ALL the looting like Rummy did. Now it is a "terrible loss" instead of "stuff happens." I see what he means about how speed was important to get control of the oil fields and the other things but I don't think they anticipated the extent of the looting. I think it is much worse than they expected it to be and it is a disaster in its own right. They will never admit it. I don't know how it could have been prevented but they are in spinning wildly to explain it and it sticks in my craw.

Having said that I still support the war and this administration.

[Cicero]

These questions are so moronically biased it's a wonder that these reporters can take any professional pride in what they are doing.

[WaterDragon]

I hear ya. But what was astounding to me was that there hasn't been a blood-bath. Under that horrible oppression people often did things they wouldn't normally do, such as snitching on each other to avoid danger for their own families. I was surprised that they aren't killing each other over that.

About the looting, I cannot conceive that had I lived in those conditions for so long that I would not have gone on a grabbing spree myself. The looting is utterly different, in my opinion, from the looting during race riots in this country -- most of which has been done by people already into the criminal life, while decent (poor) folks cowered in their homes.

The way the military handled this war, and the way they are handling the Iraqis now fills me with admiration and gratitude.

[WaterDragon]

Hey, dixiechick! I'm glad you liked it, too. It's a winner.

[Cicero]

On the contrary, I think the looting was exaggerated by the media. And a good deal of the worst looting seems to have been done by Saddam's people or museum officials who had access to the vaults. Stuff may have disappeared before our troops reached the city.

And a second point: the looting was less serious than at least a dozen instances of urban rioting and looting right here in America. When an army captures a city, you expect turmoil and looting. What was unusual, in fact, is that it wasn't the invading troops who were doing it.

Sure, it's regretable. But there's terrible hypocrisy here. The same left-wing reporters who would excuse the large-scale rape, murder, and pillage that took place when the Red Army captured Berlin are now pretending to be outraged over some relatively minor incidents.

[sinkspur]

I don't know how it could have been prevented but they are in spinning wildly to explain it and it sticks in my craw.

Well, then, to hell with your craw.

How do you know they are "spinning" if you don't know how it could have been prevented?

Theresa, you've been reduced to stamping your feet and waving your arms.

[geedee]

Good post. I only catch snippets of Wolfowitz on the news and it was quite educational to see him develop a thought and follow it through. The liberal media like to make him out to be such a war-hungry hawk that this transcript helped to show me that, as usual, the libbers will do anything to trash anyone in GW's Administration.

Again, good post.

[MEG33]

Great article.Thanks

[WaterDragon]

Thanks so much. I've thought too about how little of the briefings actually get reported. In its entirety, this was so lucid. Actually, anyone can sign up with DoD to get transcripts of the briefings emailed. The journalists always leave out the good parts.

[MEG33]

I noticed.

[Minty]

Really good article.

[Theresa]

"How do you know they are "spinning" if you don't know how it could have been prevented?"

They HAVE to whitewash it because they can't prevent it. What I saw on TV and read about it was not just "untidyness." It was so bad it got some of the Iraqi people to wondering if it would be better have Saddam back. That has to be BAD LOOTING.

[sinkspur]

It was so bad it got some of the Iraqi people to wondering if it would be better have Saddam back.

Right after the Berlin Wall fell, some East Germans wondered if it might not be better to have the Socialists back.

"Some people" want security; they could care less about freedom.

[PianoMan]

Wolfowitz is fabulous!

[dixiechick2000]

It's good to see you.;o)