During a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, Mr. Wolfowitz criticized what he described as a partial picture presented to America and the world on the mission to rebuild, stabilize and install new political institutions in Iraq, and he cast blame on the news media.
"Frankly, part of our problem is a lot of the press are afraid to travel very much, so they sit in Baghdad and they publish rumors," Mr. Wolfowitz said in his House testimony. "And rumors are plentiful."
...After his testimony, Mr. Wolfowitz's comments were rejected by reporters who have covered Iraq, and he was the subject of critical media commentary, including that from Aaron Brown, a CNN anchor, and Maureen Dowd, a columnist for The New York Times.
Iraq Net article
"Frankly, part of our problem is a lot of the press are afraid to travel very much, so they sit in Baghdad and they publish rumors," Mr. Wolfowitz said in his House testimony. "And rumors are plentiful."
...After his testimony, Mr. Wolfowitz's comments were rejected by reporters who have covered Iraq, and he was the subject of critical media commentary, including that from Aaron Brown, a CNN anchor, and Maureen Dowd, a columnist for The New York Times.
Ooops. This calls for a written apology.
"I know that many journalists continue to go out each day — in the most dangerous circumstances — to bring us coverage of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan,
" Mr. Wolfowitz wrote in the letter of apology, dated Thursday. "Since the beginning of hostilities in Iraq, 34 journalists have given their lives; many others have been injured while bringing us that story."
Mr. Wolfowitz expressed "sincerest thanks" to correspondents who report on these issues, and "admiration for their courage."
"But, most of all, I want to extend an apology," Mr. Wolfowitz wrote.
..."Unfortunately, in meaning to convey my frustration about the erroneous coverage of one particular news story, the statement I made came out much differently than I intended. And while I know reporters understand better than most that sometimes the best of intentions and the most elaborate of preparations can't prevent error, that doesn't for a moment change the seriousness of my mistake or the deep regret I feel that I did not instantly correct the record."
" Mr. Wolfowitz wrote in the letter of apology, dated Thursday. "Since the beginning of hostilities in Iraq, 34 journalists have given their lives; many others have been injured while bringing us that story."
Mr. Wolfowitz expressed "sincerest thanks" to correspondents who report on these issues, and "admiration for their courage."
"But, most of all, I want to extend an apology," Mr. Wolfowitz wrote.
..."Unfortunately, in meaning to convey my frustration about the erroneous coverage of one particular news story, the statement I made came out much differently than I intended. And while I know reporters understand better than most that sometimes the best of intentions and the most elaborate of preparations can't prevent error, that doesn't for a moment change the seriousness of my mistake or the deep regret I feel that I did not instantly correct the record."
I bet you do.
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