The Daily Background

The White House is on the defensive over Woodward’s new book. The Post reports today:

The White House responded with a document titled “Five Key Myths in Bob Woodward’s Book.” It cited speeches over the past year in which Bush acknowledged problems, and it quoted officials including Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, defending troop levels.

The following is from that “Five Key Myths in Bob Woodward’s Book” press release:

MYTH: Woodward Claims Gen. Abazaid Alleged Sec. Rumsfeld “Doesn’t Have Any Credibility Anymore.” (Bob Woodward, State Of Denial, 2006)

FACT: Gen. Abizaid’s Spokesman Says Gen. Abizaid Denies Saying This, And In Fact “General Abizaid Has Nothing But The Greatest Respect For Mr. Rumsfeld.” (David E. Sanger, “White House Disputes Book’s Account Of Rifts On Iraq,” The New York Times, 9/30/06)

How does that count as debunking at all? It’s one spokesman’s word against Woodward’s. Honestly. That’s like me citing myself saying that TheDailyBackground is the best blog on earth, as proof that it really is. So flimsy.

On a side note, what is up with the White House capitalizing Every Single Freaking Word? Was That Some Sort Of Subliminal Way Of Making What They’re Saying Sound More Authoritative And Truthful, Or Do They JustSuck At Grammar?

I’ll have a post about several new scoops from Woodward’s new book today, so stay tuned…

Filed under: Z-TDB Blog