Posted on 11/08/2005 10:13:07 PM PST by indianrightwinger
White House to 'hit back' at Democrats Aides plan aggressive response to claims intelligence misused
From Dana Bash CNN Washington Bureau Tuesday, November 8, 2005; Posted: 11:55 p.m. EST (04:55 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Top White House officials say they're developing a "campaign-style" strategy in response to increasing Democratic allegations that the Bush administration twisted intelligence to make its case for war.
White House aides, who agreed to speak to CNN only on the condition of anonymity, said they hoped to increase what they called their "hit back" in coming days.
The officials say they plan to repeatedly make the point -- as they did during the 2004 campaign -- that pre-war intelligence was faulty, it was not manipulated and everyone was working off the same intelligence.
They hope to arm GOP officials with more quotes by Democrats making the same pre-war claims as Republicans did about Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction.
Democrats have pointed at declassified information they say shows the White House was "deceptive" in pre-war statements.
Telegraphing the beginning of a communications effort is a tactic the Bush team has used in the past, especially when it comes to Iraq.
The examination into the intelligence used to justify invading Iraq has intensified on the heels of the October 28 indictment of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, who resigned the day he was indicted. (Full story)
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
This should have been done from the beginning of the year, the dems have been in campaign mode since forever and now the white house decides to do something. better late than never.
This actually should have been an ongoing strategy from Day 1 of Term 1, but better late than never, I guess.
Call me skeptical, but I will believe it when I see it.
Unless they drop a nuke on DNC HQ, I'd say it's too little, too late.
I hope this "offensive" (of which little has been seen so far, much less proven effective) pans out a lot better than the passive/cooperative version of a strategy has panned out over the last 4 years.
Living so near Liberal Acres, I am so glad to hear that the guys in the white hats will be fighting back! I am so spoilin' for a great fight!!!
They're saying the intelligence was "faulty?" How is that hitting back? Why aren't the talking about the parts of Saddam's WMD program that WERE found, and the connection between Saddam and Al Qaeda? Who's running the show up there?
It's about stinkin' time.
I can't believe the polite-speak sometimes. Just nail it down once and for all, and put this crap to bed.
The president needs to grab the initiative, secure victories, and parlay those victories into additional offensives.
"Opportunities multiply as they are seized."
--Sun Tzu
Hopefully this won't involve Scott McClellan...
Bah. Another all hat and no cattle puff piece. Gee, I'm so thrilled that the drones at Capitol Hill are "hoping" to hit back in the coming days. Me, I'm hoping to win the Lottery.
Judging from the absolutely pathetic non-response we get toward the Democrats, I'm not holding my breath for any action here.
LOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
I should add I will volunteer to do it if anyone from the White House needs a spokesperson willing to shut this crap down. It is old, damaging, and must be stopped like yesterday.
The case for war was and still is blindingly clear, but has been muddied and misrepresented by Dems and much of that has been left unchecked.
The first step in this supposed offensive should be to FIRE Scotty. He is just simply bad. Bring back ARI!!!
Give me a break. Those fools in the White House have ruined an entire year. It's about time for conservatives to jump off that inept sinking ship. If the Bush team can't keep themselves out of the 30% range, it's time for new leadership.
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