Good Wayne

Friday, March 19, 2004

Partial Transcript of Pretty Much Every Interview with Condoleezza Rice

Commentator: Good evening, Dr. Rice. I hope you’re well.

Rice: I’m much better, now that brave coalition forces have removed the butcher Saddam Hussein from power.

C: How do you respond to concerns about the failure to find any weapons of mass destruction?

R: There’s been no failure. We have to recognize that ever since Sept. 11, 2001, the rules have changed.

C: Okay, but what about the WMD?

R: Let’s be perfectly clear. We were attacked on our own soil. If we want to avoid the loss of American lives, we need to take the fight to the terrorists, in their own backyard.

C: So you’re not going to comment on the WMD?

R: I think I’ve made my views clear on that point. Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator, and we don’t want terrorists to strike at us again within our borders.

C: (Sighs) Let’s change tack a little. It’s been reported that you declined to testify before the 9-11 commission. Aren’t you concerned that this might make it seem that the administration has something to hide?

R: Not at all. Pres. Bush has shown remarkable leadership in the wake of 9-11. The world is a better place with Saddam Hussein out of power.

C: But if you have nothing to hide, why not testify publicly?

R: We didn’t begin this war—we were attacked on our own soil, let’s not forget. Saddam Hussein has been defeated, but the war goes on.

C: Everyone agrees that it was good to remove Saddam, but it can hardly be said that the world is safer with him gone. Look at the continuing bombings and
assassinations in—

R: I agree that Al Qaeda continues to be a threat, just as this administration has asserted all along. The terrorists who flew civilian aircraft into our buildings are the same homicide bombers who’ve fought to keep democracy out of Iraq, but they won’t succeed.

C: So, it’s your assertion that Saddam Hussein had definitive ties to Al Qaeda?

R: Let me put it this way. If Saddam had given WMDs to Al Qaeda, the tragedy of 9-11 would have been much, much worse. Pres. Bush has shown great leadership in the war on terror—

C: Right, right. But what about the massive apparent intelligence failures preceding, during, and after the invasion of Iraq?

R: All the intelligence confirms what we’ve said all along. Saddam’s regime was incredibly cruel, and he needed to be removed. We don’t want another 9-11
on our hands.

C: Okay, but President Bush, VP Cheney, Sec. Powell, Dep. Sec. Wolfowitz, and you all stated clearly and with confidence that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction and the intent to use them, and Sec. Rumsfeld went so far as to say we knew exactly where they were. How do you respond to those who question those claims, now that no evidence of WMDs has turned up?

R: As we’ve stated clearly before, Saddam was clear in his non-compliance never to show the disinclination not to pursue a potential program to research the
possible non-development of weapons of mass destruction. We stand by that assertion.

C: Ah, yes. I understand now. In closing, Dr. Rice, what do you say to critics of the administration who question the President’s choice to use images of the tragedy of September 11th in his campaign ads?

R: The nation has faced great challenges, both after 9-11 and during the war in Iraq. President Bush has shown tremendous leadership, and the use of those images is appropriate, in fact necessary, so that we never forget our shared experiences as a nation. Under President Bush our brave servicemen and women have fought the terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan. It would be a great disservice not to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

-Dave Schuler

posted by Evil Wayne | 10:49 PM

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