Alcohol and Cheney’s Hunting Accident: Armstrong Can’t Keep Her Story Straight
Alcohol and Cheney’s Hunting Accident: Armstrong Can’t Keep Her Story Straight
It seems, Katharine Armstrong – the “star witness” to Cheney’s hunting accident – can’t keep her story straight:
Scripps Howard News Service, 2/13/06:
None in the hunting party was drinking alcohol, said the owner, Katharine Armstrong. “No, zero, zippo and I don’t drink at all,” she said. “No one was drinking.”
LA Times, 2/14/06:
The party of 11 hunters set out in two trucks Saturday morning, driving around the mesquite-dotted property and shooting quail until about 12:30 p.m., said Anne Armstrong, co-owner of the ranch. Then they broke for a lunch of antelope, jicama salad and camp bread, washed down with Dr. Pepper.
MSNBC, 2/14/06:
“If someone wants to help themselves to a beer,†she said, “they may, but I did not see anyone do that,†Armstrong says. She says she was not sure if there were beers in the coolers but wasn’t ready to rule it out: “There may be a beer or two in there, but remember not everyone in the party was shooting,†she told NBC News.
Editor and Publisher, 2/15/06:
CNN today reports that Armstrong had told CNN she never saw Cheney or Whittington “drink at all on the day of the shooting until after the accident occurred, when the vice president fixed himself a cocktail back at the house.”
Now, Cheney said he drank “a beer” before hunting. Fox News, 2/15/06:
HUME: He said he had a beer at lunch and that had been many hours earlier. And it was dusk, around 5:00 p.m., when this incident happened. And he said that, you know, they had lunch out in the field, a barbecue, and he had a beer.
Can we still trust Katherine Armstrong? To this point, her version of the events has been viewed as definitive.
UPDATE: The second quote is by Anne Armstrong, Katherine’s mother, who was also at the lunch.
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TP – Your dates are all wacky.
February 15th, 2006 at 6:17 pmI think you need to correct those dates.
February 15th, 2006 at 6:18 pmFixed it, thanks.
February 15th, 2006 at 6:19 pmHe had a Dr Pepper…and what?
February 15th, 2006 at 6:21 pmAt first I figured since this woman was there she would know, but if she can’t keep her story straight for even one day, I wonder. And it’s not even that her story changed form one beer to two beers, it went from no drinking, to maybe drinking, to barbeque and beer. Maybe she just talks so much she doesn’t even listen to herself.
February 15th, 2006 at 6:23 pmMaybe she was the one drinking.
Dr. Pepper is great at covering up the alcohol on one’s breath.
Suggestion for TP – there must be some NRA pamphlet on gun safety about how you should never handle guns after having a drink, even a single drink.
February 15th, 2006 at 6:24 pmFinal question asked at afternoon hospital press briefing was “At any time was (Wittington’s) blood alchohol level tested?” Answer: No comment. He is reputed to be a non-drinker, but it seems that VP would now drink alone in the close party mode of such a hunt. Just saying.
February 15th, 2006 at 6:24 pmTHIS ROCKS!!!
Just for Cheney – LITTLE ORANGE VEST PROJECT
http://darted.blogspot.com/2006/02/little-orange-vest-project.html
The tiny orange vests symbolize everything that is wrong with this administration:
Firing without having a clear idea of what the outcome will be and then scrambling deceitfully to control the disastrous outcome.
Lift them high America. They’re tiny hunting vests. They smell of freedom.
February 15th, 2006 at 6:24 pmHe fixed imself a cocktail after accidently shooting a man? I can see having the desire to do so, but with the inevitable police involvement that was either very bad judgement or a decent attempt at subtrafuge.
February 15th, 2006 at 6:26 pmUhh, “… a lunch of antelope,” …. what?!
I’m not from South Texas, but that’s just weird. Is it legal? Do they grow their own antelope on the ranch? I thought the $12,000 Italian shotguns were over the top, but antelope for lunch?
February 15th, 2006 at 6:32 pmThe quotes seem to have two Armstrongs. One Katherine
February 15th, 2006 at 6:33 pm(Scripps Howard) and also Anne (LAT quote). Is this a typo?
I always like to “fix myself a cocktail” after a nice meal of antelope, jicama, and beer and shooting a 78-year old man in the face.
February 15th, 2006 at 6:36 pm#10
Cheney probably lived on Antelope growing up in Wyoming, they are all over the place. Antelope is a dry, fowl smeeling, stringy, gamey, and generally nasty meat in my opinion. Perfect for Cheney (except for the fact it was not slughtered at his feet and he was not fed the beating heart).
February 15th, 2006 at 6:36 pmYou know what it’s looking like more and more? Armstrong shot the guy. Accidently. And she was drunk. And she said “You ain’t telling them it was me! I got too much on you!” And Cheney takes the hit, but he insists that Armstrong’s gotta report it–she did the shootin, she can do teh tootin.
Again: Armstong shot Whittington.
February 15th, 2006 at 6:39 pmI am sorry, but the sunset time at Port Aransas (about 50 miles north of the Armstrong Ranch) was at 6:18 pm on Saturday, February 11, 2006. It set just a little later at the ranch.
February 15th, 2006 at 6:40 pmScroll to page 5 of 9 here.
Jeesh, he was drinking before the shooting and after the shooting. Someone get the Veep away from the liquor before he shotguns another 78 year old man in the face.
-GSD
February 15th, 2006 at 6:43 pm#13,
February 15th, 2006 at 6:51 pmCheney only dines on the endangered Tibetan Antelope. It has a far sweeter flesh than the Western Antelope.
Armstrong lert too many questions unanswered, too many story changes. Cheney said he purposely chose her. Cheney is making it appear that the delay was all in the name of “being accurate.” Going to the small town paper first was not a hedge against the bigger headline — he says — it was simply the NYT being jealous of the little paper getting the story before them.
February 15th, 2006 at 6:52 pmSo according to Dick, this was an accident, he delayed deliberately because of accuracy, and if the press is displeased, it’s because they are jealous.
He’s got his speech memorized. But it is still not jelling.
It would seem that the VP has a little issue with drinking, don’t you think?
1. He’s been arrested for DUI two times.
2. He drinks prior to hunting and shoots his friend in the face.
3. He caps off a sucessful day of old guy shooting by having a cocktail.
He must be an alcoholic. We have the first VP to shoot a person, and we have the first White House with an alcoholic president and VP. There’s never been a more proud moment in history for the American people. This beats news about blowjobs by a long shot.
February 15th, 2006 at 6:54 pmWho cares whether they were drinking or not? You all sound like the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. Believe me, they’re hiding a lot more than that. For starters, who was the third man in the hunting party? Do the police have Cheney’s gun as required by law? If Cheney is having a cocktail after the shooting, he’s certainly not worried about his blood alcohol level.
February 15th, 2006 at 6:55 pmThe truth may never be revealed nor will it be totally accepted if it is. There are only two (admittedly gross generalizations) factors that make this incident different from any number of similar shooting accidents each year throughout the Country: (1) one of the principals was a noted “Personality” known for his less than Gentlemanly behaviour and propensity to act without significant consideration of the consequences in ways that tend to exceed normal rules of decorum, and (2) one lesser known, but equally successful, individual that is a career professional in an occupation (Liberal Lawyer)at significant odds with the first individual (Neo-Conservative businessman cum Vice-President)who, in an obvious personal competitive situation is rightfully inclined to taunt Individual Number One. To this we add all the common elements (or compounds) of alcohol, testosterone, calcium, vitamins C, D, E, F, G and H, and we get just another shooting of one braggart drunk of another, but about which all participants lie and attempt to cover up because of the two premises above. In layman’s language that most of us use and understand: Cheney (Neo-con Vice-President with no morals) shot the Liberal Bastard Texas Lawyer because he, Liberal Bastard Texas Lawyer, who shot the first quail was bad-mouthing Cheney.
February 15th, 2006 at 6:56 pmRawstory had a line from the Corpus Christi doctor’s press conference this morning regarding Mr. Whittington which ended….
The last question of the press conference was whether or not Whittington’s blood alcohol had ever been tested. The response: “No comment.”
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Press_conference_on_condition_of_lawyer_0215.html
Mike
February 15th, 2006 at 7:00 pmAt least he is consistent….
February 15th, 2006 at 7:03 pmWhy are you playing into the administration’s hands, ThinkProgress? This story is such an obvious distraction from: newly release Abu Ghraib photos, the devastating Katrina report, the budget proposal, the wiretapping. All more important than a hunting accident.
February 15th, 2006 at 7:15 pm#20
Whatareyoukidding? Who cares if he was drinking? Operating a shotgun while drunk is a crime–by itself. Shooting someone while drunkenly handling a shotgun is a SERIOUS crime, much more so that just accidently shooting someone. And covering up the fact afterward? You’re way off the field here.
February 15th, 2006 at 7:26 pm“Who cares whether they were drinking or not? You all sound like the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union.”
#20, you’re kidding right? I would say that the Texas Parks and Wildlife cares. I would say that the NRA cares. I’m guessing that most Americans care. I’m damn sure that the old dude with pellets in his face cares. Do I care? No, not really. It’s not about drinking being an un-Christian thing to do. It’s about drinking and wielding weapons and drinking — the combination of the two. Do you understand?
February 15th, 2006 at 7:29 pm#24 SuperEgo,
Should you put your eyes where your mouth is you would discover that Think Progress has more than adequately reported on the incidents to which you have reference. You might also discover that those that linger here do so because they have the opportunity to examine, evaluate, and comment upon, intelligently, sarcastically, emotionally, comically, seriously, frivolously, argumentatively, supportive, agreably, or any other –ly that may come to mind, all those same issues. The intelligence level of Think Progress and the contributors (some trolls excluded) is so far above that of the administration that even the force of gravity could not make it appear that anyone here(above exception noted) would be playing into the hands (or any other part of the collective anatomy for that matter) of the administration.
February 15th, 2006 at 7:31 pmLet’s review Cheney’s truthfulness to any press:
1)Energy task force meetings-nope,no truthfulness here
2)Enron meeting/Ken Lay-nope,truthfulness here
3)Iraq nuclear program-nope no thruthfulness here
4)Iraq WMDs-nope,no truthfulness here
5) Shooting 78 yr.old in the face-nope,no thruthfulness here.
Well, I’m satisfied that I’m now fully informed about this incident.
February 15th, 2006 at 7:36 pmIt’s hard to keep your story straight, when you’ve been drinking all day…..
February 15th, 2006 at 7:41 pmSomeone should check Cheney vest for beer stains.
February 15th, 2006 at 7:43 pmI think it’s been now amply demonstrated that Cheney won’t be forthcoming, face the facts, and tell the truth even if a friend’s life depends on it.
Cheney’s rules: Break the law, conceal the fact, lie, and deny. If caught, deflect, change the subject, and blame someone else. Come up with catchy spin. Repeat.
Whatever happened to personal responsibility?
February 15th, 2006 at 7:44 pmMedia Ignores Cheney ‘Smoking Gun’(?)
A 28-gauge shotgun fired at 30 yards is too weak to cause Whittington’s injuries:
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/february2006/150206smokinggun.htm
Anyone can verify?
February 15th, 2006 at 7:47 pmSo Cheney was drinking both before AND after he shot Whittington.
February 15th, 2006 at 7:48 pmDoes CHeney make a habit of getting drunk every weekend, or is this something he does only once in awhile?
I was concerned about Bush and Cheney before the 2000 elections because they have both been arrested for drinving drunk, something that shows they have poor judgement.
But now we have word that Bush is drinking again and Cheney is slammming them down on the weekends.
Do these two know how to act responsibly?
Domehead got his beer drinking techniques from the coneheads. One sixpack = 1 beer as long as the rings aren’t removed.
February 15th, 2006 at 7:49 pm#33,
February 15th, 2006 at 7:50 pmNo.
Scripps Howard News Service, 2/13/06:
… the owner, Katharine Armstrong…
LA Times, 2/14/06:
… said Anne Armstrong, co-owner of the ranch.
TWO DIFFERENT ARMSTRONG WOMEN???
February 15th, 2006 at 8:07 pmanalyzing and picking apart the cheney-hunting-a-man situation is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. It’s not gonna go anywhere.
what’s new with the spying on americans stuff?
February 15th, 2006 at 8:09 pmI was relieved to learn that VP Cheney accepted fault for the shooting. We can now dispense with speculation that it Mr. Whittington had been shot by an angry pheasant with ties to al-Qaeda.
February 15th, 2006 at 8:17 pm#38 — It’s certainly important if we can tease a crime out of it. But it’s even more valuable as a perfect metaphor for administration policies, and the sort of fatal PR blow that will perpetually undercut Cheney’s public posturing as a button-down, always-in-control “adult.” I’m hoping this is his “killer rabbit.”
In the meantime, I don’t think anyone’s neglecting the “big issues.”
February 15th, 2006 at 8:25 pmI question this woman’s view of what happened. Cheney referred to her as an eye witness. But in one of her interviews with the media she said she was sitting a truck, at dusk when the shooting occurred and the Cheney and the party were one hundred yards away. That is the length of a football field, and there were bushes between her and them. How well could she see from that distance at that time of day, exactly what happened and in what sequence? I think she was sent out to put out a story with out the facts and is now being caught out.
February 15th, 2006 at 8:29 pmLet us all stop dwelling on that Al Qaeda, Irani and Iraqi stuff. That’s all pre 211.
February 15th, 2006 at 8:34 pmLying sack of crap?
February 15th, 2006 at 8:35 pmQuisp,
February 15th, 2006 at 8:39 pmI resent that.;=)
BRIT HUME: Thank you for joining us this afternoon, Mr. Vice President.
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: Thank you, Brit.
BRIT HUME: I love you.
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: Well, it was the worst experience of my life — what was that?
BRIT HUME: I love your soul, Mr. Vice President.
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: I love you, too, Brit. So…
BRIT HUME: Tell us about Saturday.
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: I had a beer for lunch then me and the fellas went hunting for retarded birds on the Armstrong ranch.
BRIT HUME: You have a masculine voice.
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: Yes, well, Harry got a couple of birds, then a few jumped out at me like a goddamn wolf man. I flat-lined, was revived with those zappy paddles, and then–
BRIT HUME: You were almost killed by the retarded birds? You’re like a Norse God. And this was Gotterdammerung!
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: I don’t know what that is. Anyway, this bastard bird jumped up and I fired away. That’s when one of the fellas shouted, “You shot Harry!”
BRIT HUME: Which fella shouted that?
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: (incomprehensible)
BRIT HUME: Who?
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: One of the guys, you know. One of my hunting buddies. Big guy. Hairy.
BRIT HUME: Okay.
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: Pam Willeford. Who is a guy.
BRIT HUME: Some people are saying that’s true. And without pressing you any further, I will agree and chalk it up as confirmed.
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: Stop grilling me on details, Brit. So I ran up to Harry. I didn’t run, actually. I kind of lurched. I like to lurch. Harry was conscious, happy, and joking. He was also unconscious, severely injured, and not talking.
BRIT HUME: That makes so much sense. I just peed myself it made so much sense.
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: Right.
BRIT HUME: Can I kiss the fleshy area above your elbow?
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: What? No. (whispers) Later. Anyway, hospital — recovery — heart attack — and here I am. Fully complying with my obligation to the American people to be forthcoming and honest.
BRIT HUME: Most honest Veep ever. Thank you for choosing Fox News to tell your story, Mr. Vice President. Sorry if I had to ask the hard questions, but I’m a journalist.
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: It’s your job. Thank you, Brit.
BRIT HUME: Do my saggy eyes make me look sleepy?
END TRANSCRIPT
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-cesca/transcript-brit-humes-i_b_15747.html
February 15th, 2006 at 8:44 pmThis is too simple. The lying bastard was drunk! Simple.The dumb broad lied and since she was fried also, she couldn’t keep the story straight. AND– the third member of the party, better known as the dicks’ “monica” hasn’t said a word. I’ll bet that that slut is being bird dogged(Ha!) and lets see how fast she can get out of dodge!
February 15th, 2006 at 9:06 pmnow let me get this straight, WHO, is in the bush, WHAT, has a gun and, I DON’T KNOW, has a shooting ranch. So WHO is guilty?…NO….WHO is in the bush! So WHAT got shot?..NO…What has a gun!…….I DON’T KNOW!!!
February 15th, 2006 at 9:09 pmJon Stewart says Dick Cheney mistook Harry Whittington for a bird. I don’t think that’s true. I’ve studied the photographic record, and I’m convinced that in a certain light Whittington looks amazingly like Cindy Sheehan!
February 15th, 2006 at 9:15 pmthe vice president fixed himself a cocktail back at the house.â€
Wow, this means he knew he wouldn’t face any police investigation that evening. Would any of us put any alcohol into our systems after such an accident if we thought the cops might be coming? How did he know FOR SURE that he wouldn’t face any questioning or testing?
February 15th, 2006 at 9:19 pmI just listened to Carl Cameron from FOX preview the Cheney interview and Carl says Cheney had a drink a couple of hours before the shooting. So it’s down to two from four or five….can I get a he had a beer in his hand.
February 15th, 2006 at 9:21 pmThis obsession with nailing Cheney on this is going to hurt the Dems. The average American knows this was just an accident and will leave it at that. Stop over reaching or suffer the consequences.
February 15th, 2006 at 9:26 pm#48 — if he thought it was Cindy, he wouldn’t have just wounded him.
February 15th, 2006 at 9:28 pmThere has been a buzz about the vp hunting from an automobile, with interesting comments posted by hunters on blogs here and there. At any rate, I am trying to figure out how a hunter could whirl around to fire…from a car…
February 15th, 2006 at 9:28 pm?????
#6 Suggestion for TP – there must be some NRA pamphlet on gun safety about how you should never handle guns after having a drink, even a single drink.
You are correct:
http://www.isra.org/education-training/safety.shtml
February 15th, 2006 at 9:33 pmthe only thing we can hope for is that the president will go hunting with dead eye dick,i’ll buy the beer
February 15th, 2006 at 9:35 pmIronically, the Corpus Christi Times, the paper given the ’scoop’ on the Cheney shooting reported on 1/1/200 that the Texas blood/alcohol content to determine DUI was lowered from .1 to .08 here: http://web.caller.com/ 2000/ january/ 01/ today/ local_ne/ 4482.html
February 15th, 2006 at 9:38 pmIt isn’t necessary that Cheney was ‘drunk’ for this to be an embarassment which he sought to avoid (after all, he was confident enough to ‘make himself a cocktail’ after the incident), only that he was over .08. This is probably what he was doing. His doctor on the scene may have even had breathalyzer equipment with him.
Oh sweetie, first you write this.
“This obsession with nailing Cheney on this is going to hurt the Dems.”
Then you write this
“#48 — if he thought it was Cindy, he wouldn’t have just wounded him. Concerned Conservative”
Oh pumpkin, the only thing you seem to be concerned about is your own partisan politics, and your own obsessions. I mean, how obsessed must a republican partisan be in order to say that the Vice President should kill the mother of a war veteran? And where’s the sympathy for a man who was shot in the face by a reckless and apparently drunk Vice President? The partisan brain makes people irrational, illogical and unreasonable – so I forgive you for your hateful, and vile comment. I’m sure you’re a good upstanding, and decent american – even if your post doesn’t reflect any of those traits. Poor sweetie, it must be awful to be so filled with hate that you can only accuse others of your emotions.
February 15th, 2006 at 9:38 pmI’ll buy the Rye. What’s a hunt without a few boilermakers!
February 15th, 2006 at 9:39 pmEverybody knows that the Great White Hunter could have squelched all of these inuendos if he came forward on 211. How stupid was (is) he?
February 15th, 2006 at 9:49 pmright punch….took the words right out of my mouth. cool.
February 15th, 2006 at 9:54 pmCheney wasn’t stupid. It just took him a long time to get Harry Whittington tied down to the hood of his SUV.
February 15th, 2006 at 9:55 pm211?….is that ‘drunk with a gun’ police call?
February 15th, 2006 at 9:57 pm211 is a date in February. Last Saturday.
February 15th, 2006 at 10:03 pmA mental image just flashed before my eyes: what would be the consequences if Dan Quayle arose between the Dick and W in a duel? In one short bevy, three of the worst Republican office holders of all time would be eliminated. (Dicky is already on the daisy farm).
February 15th, 2006 at 10:04 pmI don’t see how she changed her story at all :
1) no one was drinking (beer) (before hunting)
2) people were drinking Dr. Pepper (before hunting)
3) there might have been beer in the cooler but I didn’t see anyone drink it (before hunting)
4) VP drank a cocktail (after)
5) Not an Armstrong quote.
Where is the inconsistency?
February 15th, 2006 at 10:15 pm#66,
February 15th, 2006 at 10:18 pmThe inconsistency is in your accoiunt.
accoiunt = account – shouldn’t touch type at 65.
February 15th, 2006 at 10:20 pmbe more clear, please, Walt
February 15th, 2006 at 10:28 pmAnd where’s the sympathy for a man who was shot in the face by a reckless and apparently drunk Vice President?
Reckless … clearly. Drunk … wishful thinking. Perhaps one should stick to the facts instead of what one earnestly hopes is the truth (even if you really, really think it might/could be true based upon everything you think you may know about the VPs prior behaviors as reported to you by people who fervently believe that Cheney is Hitler incarnate) … this whole story is a huge yawn. It jumped the shark yesterday (although that saying did last year). Glad to see your partisan decoder ring is as astute as ever, sweetpea.
Cheers.
February 15th, 2006 at 10:31 pm#69,
February 15th, 2006 at 10:33 pmDick Cheney said he had a beer or two befor the hunt. Can it be any clearer?
Where the Hell is Ryan Neat?
I haven’t seen him in a couple of days,…again.
And the trolls (G-) are posting away,… again.
Don’t tell me it’s happened again.
February 15th, 2006 at 10:38 pmBut this article is about Armstrong’s story, as the title states, “Armstrong Can’t Keep Her Story Straight”. All her quotes seem right in line.
February 15th, 2006 at 10:40 pmThe cocktail was consumed in case he had to take a test later in the evening. It is a dodge that is used when you are in an accident and are drunk. Leave the scene and return and say you stopped down the street for a drink. Works every time.
February 15th, 2006 at 10:42 pmThinkProgress seems a bit obsessed about the Cheney story.
Although it should be noted that all claims that Valerie Plame was outed were just shredded tonight.
Vice President Cheney mentioned that he has the power to declassify classified information.
And I believe that opens up the possibility that if information about Plame was classified, then it was declassified in 2003 to allow for the legal disclosure of Plame’s role in the Joe Wilson story.
February 15th, 2006 at 10:46 pmRyan was here yesterday. Perhaps Gary or IRI got him expelled because of a transgression.
February 15th, 2006 at 10:49 pmsince TP is too busy spamming people like me and banning others for nothing, I guess I have to bring you the latest news:
Saddam Reportedly Warned U.S. of Terrorism
By GERALD NADLER (Associated Press Writer)
From Associated Press
February 15, 2006 10:17 PM EST
NEW YORK – Saddam Hussein told aides in the mid-1990s that he warned the United States it could be hit by a terrorist attack, ABC News reported Wednesday, citing 12 hours of tapes the network obtained of the former Iraqi dictator’s talks with his Cabinet.
One of Saddam’s son-in-laws also explained how Iraq hid its biological weapons programs from U.N. inspectors, according to the tapes from August 1995.
The coming terrorist attack Saddam predicted could involve weapons of mass destruction.
“Terrorism is coming. I told the Americans,” Saddam is heard saying, adding he “told the British as well.”
“In the future, what would prevent a booby trapped car causing a nuclear explosion in Washington or a germ or a chemical one?” Saddam said.
But he insisted Iraq would never launch such an attack. “This story is coming, but not from Iraq,” he said.
The State Department had no comment on the report, which aired on “World News Tonight.” ABC News said U.S. officials confirmed the tapes were authentic.
ABC News said the CIA found the tapes in Iraq and that the 12 hours were provided to it by Bill Tierney, a former member of a U.N. inspection team who was translating them for the FBI. ABC News quoted Tierney as saying the U.S. government was wrong to keep the tapes secret.
Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz told Saddam on the tape that “the biological (attack) is very easy to make. It’s so simple that any biologist can make a bottle of germs and drop it into a water tower and kill 100,000.”
“This is not done by a state. No need to accuse a state. An individual can do it,” he said.
Hussein Kamel, a son-in-law of Saddam’s, who was then in charge of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction efforts, explained how Iraq held back information from the U.N. inspectors.
“We did not reveal all that we have,” he said. “We did not reveal the volume of chemical weapons we had produced.”
Kamel said Iraq had not revealed “the type of weapons, not the volume of the materials we imported.”
Hussein Kamel defected to Jordan shortly after the tapes were recorded, and Iraq was forced to admit it had concealed its biological weapons program. Kamel returned to Iraq in February 1996 and was killed by security forces.
Charles Duelfer, who led the official U.S. search for weapons of mass destruction after the first Gulf War, told ABC News the tapes show extensive deception but don’t prove that weapons were still hidden in Iraq at the time of the U.S.-led war in 2003.
“What they do is support the conclusion in the report which we made in the last couple of years, that the regime had the intention of building and rebuilding weapons of mass destruction, when circumstances permitted,” he said.
Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
February 15th, 2006 at 10:50 pmWow, that’s a crazy lineup when you put her quotes out like that.
February 15th, 2006 at 10:53 pmGary,
February 15th, 2006 at 10:56 pmCheney’s only job is to act as the President of the Senate. Declassifying classified information does not fit into that job description.
Thanks, Walt.
February 15th, 2006 at 11:01 pmDon’t think I’ll be posting much longer. TP’s censorship is feeling a little 1930’s….
IRI made BLATENTLY racist remarks the other day. I copied it and sent it to them, but nothing. Ryan calls them a retard and it’s lights out.
Where’s the justice in that?????
TB,
February 15th, 2006 at 11:07 pmKeep posting. The truth is bound to come out. Peace.
And I thought there might be some real discussion about how this whole thing is exposing Cheney for the lies and secrets he has been telling and hiding for 5 years. Good thing I haven’t missed anything.
February 15th, 2006 at 11:08 pmWhere’s Rumsfeld been?
February 15th, 2006 at 11:10 pm#83,
February 15th, 2006 at 11:13 pmSomewhere under a rock in west Asia.
Distance of several feet, not 30 yards, between Cheney and shooting victim: Whittington was standing in low-lying area or bed of dried pond “several feet downhill from Cheney” – “With the wind gusting and the sun setting behind where Whittington was walking, it could have been hard to see and hear him.”
Patriot Daily
February 15th, 2006 at 11:40 pm#66,
February 15th, 2006 at 11:43 pmI love TP, read it every day, but this article is stretching and smells of partisan hackery. I’ve never posted comments before (never felt I had to), is there someone at TP that can explain this, or post a retraction or something.
I firmly believe TED NUGENT would not approve of all of this and feel it was irresponsible behavior. Ted is hardline about punishment, and feels anyone who does this should go to jail and never be allowed to have a gun again. Ted Nugent does not drink or use drugs, is an avid hunter and fully supports the Right Wing.
Signed,
Ted Nugent.
February 15th, 2006 at 11:45 pmCheney!…Cheney!…Cheney!
February 15th, 2006 at 11:45 pmI agree with Ted above.
February 15th, 2006 at 11:46 pm#87,
February 15th, 2006 at 11:48 pmI did in #67 and #68.
But you are off point, see #73
February 15th, 2006 at 11:50 pm#86 “several feet downhill from Cheneyâ€
Wow! Dick was shooting that low? And Harry was only several feet away? And the light was poor? How desperate was Dick to bag one more pen-raised bird nearly on the ground (to add to the 70 other birds) before he went back to the ranch?!
February 15th, 2006 at 11:52 pm#73,
February 15th, 2006 at 11:56 pmMs. Armstrong was all over the field. Just look at her statements.
We’ve got Dick Cheney Jokes.
February 15th, 2006 at 11:56 pm#95, I have looked at her statements :
she said:
- no one drank (beer)
- people drank Dr. Pepper
- might have been some beer in the cooler
- VP drank a cocktail later that night
How are any of these inconsistent?
February 15th, 2006 at 11:59 pmWhere’s the Secret service in this story? wouldn’t they have been close by Dick? Afterall, we are talking about people with guns here. I’d think that the SS would be hanging back behind Dick with a field of view to watch over the pigeon shoot. Now, does anyone really think that Dick would wheel and shoot knowing his agents are standing behind him? Very doubtful.
I think that “cocktail(s)” in the evening was planned, too. Remember, no one knows at the time just how bad off Widdington is. What if he kicked in the evening? Police would be on the scene, for sure. Having some drinks in the evening would provide cover for whatever booze was in his system from that afternoon.
This story stinks. Dick was on a private ranch, enjoying himself out of the public eye. He’s “unwinding” from the stress of all the shit that’s going down in Washington- so he takes a weekend away to drink, kill things, and whatever. I’m sure he had a good buzz going at the time. Probably got careless with the shotgun and discharged it accidently.
February 16th, 2006 at 12:01 am#97,
February 16th, 2006 at 12:28 amLast post since there’s been no comment. I’ll let it go, but it is stuff like this, and Walt’s vacuous responses that degrade the American conversation, progressive or otherwise.
Just think if the shoe was on the other foot and Cheney was the one that got shot, the Secret Service would have blasted Whittington with everything they had. One dead lawyer.
February 16th, 2006 at 12:33 am[...] … as chronicled on ThinkProgress. Alcohol and Cheney’s Hunting Accident: Armstrong Can’t Keep Her Story Straight • • • [...]
February 16th, 2006 at 1:19 am#99,
February 16th, 2006 at 1:30 amMe vacuous? At least my IQ (ability to reason), is more than twice that of the current resident of the White House. If GWB had as much grey matter as a common slug, this nation would be humming.
criticalThinker,
The problem is with the very first item in your list.
Dick Cheney has admitted on Fox that he drank BEER before the hunt.
February 16th, 2006 at 1:32 am#103 – Spudge_Boy,
February 16th, 2006 at 1:35 amThat too.
criticalThinker,
Go back to the front page of Think Progress. Scroll down two postings from this one and watch the video:
Or read the transcript:
QUESTION: You asked him about alcohol being consumed on premises.
HUME: I did.
QUESTION: And what did he say about that?
HUME: He said he had a beer at lunch and that had been many hours earlier. And it was dusk, around 5:00 p.m., when this incident happened. And he said that, you know, they had lunch out in the field, a barbecue, and he had a beer. But you said you don’t hunt with people who have been drinking. He said no one was drinking. He said they went back to the ranch afterwards, took a break after that, and went out about 3:00 and so you’re four or five hours distanced from the last alcohol that he consumed. And he said no one was drinking, not he nor anyone else.
Shoot, you don’t even need to go anywhere. I did the work for you.
The transcript is Brit Hume discussing his exclusive interview with Dick Cheney on Fox.
February 16th, 2006 at 1:36 amSh!t, you even said the same thing in post #97:
That is wrong and the best part about it? Cheney admitted to it on FOx, so it comes from a right station not a lefty publication.
February 16th, 2006 at 1:38 amSpudge_Boy,
February 16th, 2006 at 1:41 amI’m off tothe sack. It’s 0140 hours here on the East Coast.
Peace out WaltTheMan!
February 16th, 2006 at 1:42 amInteresting comments everyone on Cheney drinking beer the day of the shooting! Then he fixes a hard liquer drink after the shooting?
So in effect it is obvious that Cheney was under the influence of alcohol, but he did not chat with a sheriff deputy until 8:00AM Sunday morning, so 14 hours after he shot Harry! This means he needed to sober up before being
February 16th, 2006 at 4:07 amseen by the deputy, which implies negligence in his actions! This also implies that the Secret Service agents guarding him have taken part in covering up for him!
I firmly believe TED NUGENT would not approve of all of this and feel it was irresponsible behavior. Ted is hardline about punishment, and feels anyone who does this should go to jail and never be allowed to have a gun again. Ted Nugent does not drink or use drugs, is an avid hunter and fully supports the Right Wing.
Signed,
Ted Nugent.
Comment by Ted Nugent — February 15, 2006 @ 11:45 pm
Well great! Now if you could just do something about that sucky guitar-playing we’d all be happy! I still remember “ass-scratch fever” you hack.
February 16th, 2006 at 4:16 am#109 which means Mr.cheney knew that the secret service would place him above the state law in this case, and they can be counted on not revealing anythiong to the press or relevant federal agencies about the OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE that is occurring by denying the use of alcohol while handling a fire arm, and not reporting the violations to the approiate state and federal agencies.
February 16th, 2006 at 4:17 amYes Clif this is becoming an obstruction of justice issue, by Secret Service agents who are supposed to protect the VP from harm, but NOT take part in any criminal behavior or cover-ups either! I hope the press notices this fact?!
February 16th, 2006 at 4:24 amThere is now a rumor that Cheney was also having an affair with Pamela Willeford, the ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein that was with him at the time he shot Whittington. Lynne Cheney has been awfully quiet about this whole “affair” which is not like her.
February 16th, 2006 at 7:03 amWell great! Now if you could just do something about that sucky guitar-playing we’d all be happy!
To call what Nugent the chickenhawk does “guitar-playing” is an insult even to a hack like Jerry Garcia. Jeff Beck is a guitar player. Page might be a guitar player, when sober enough to stand. Even Clapton might be a guitar player, although they don’t call him “slow hand” for nothing, but to call Ted Nugent anything more than an ass-hack in a loin cloth is even an insult to that dipshit now on TV called Esteban.
February 16th, 2006 at 7:08 amDrunk … wishful thinking. Perhaps one should stick to the facts instead of what one earnestly hopes is the truth… Glad to see your partisan decoder ring is as astute as ever, sweetpea.
Cheers.
Comment by Giacomo
Take your own advice. As he is a heart patient, he is on a range of different medications, and probably including a class of drugs known as Beta Blockers, (you don’t even know what they are) and as a person who takes them myself, I can tell you that they are like being drunk and hungover all rolled into one all by themselves. I know what one beer does to that mix. He should be charged with a crime. He will be charged with many crimes, in due time. They all will.
February 16th, 2006 at 7:38 amTo watch Scott McClellan spin this as the victim’s fault is as comical as it is predictable. “Mr. Whittington did not follow protocol”. Sheeeeshh, give me a break. ANYONE with ANY gun training should know not to drink prior/during hunting and be sure of your target. Blaming the victim here is like blaming a five-year old girl for being raped by a child-molester. Since 5-deferment Dick(head) is so eager to shoot his gun and had better things to do during Vietnam, but is so gung-ho on the Iraq war, perhaps he should go there with his gun.
February 16th, 2006 at 7:45 am[...] Think Progress » Alcohol and Cheney’s Hunting Accident: Armstrong Can’t Keep Her Story Straight [...]
February 16th, 2006 at 7:55 amWhy is everyone dwelling on something that can’t possibly be proven (was Cheney drunk or not?)? Isn’t it more interesting that Cheney shot Wittington at very close range, not thirty yards, feet, or whatever. Who is the third party in the hunt who has yet to come forward? Has anyone from Wittington’s family visited him? If they have, why no statement? Why does the hospital claim that Wittington is in intensive care for reasons of “privacy”?
February 16th, 2006 at 8:04 amTHE ARMSTRONGS ARE OLD AND VERY VERY CLOSE
FRIENDS OF BOTH ROVE AND CHENEY (going back 20 to 30 years)!
THEY ARE NOT CREDIBLE
AND CAN NOT BELIEVED.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER (for BEER drinking and fake hunts, just like their fake news interviews).
February 16th, 2006 at 8:31 amTHE ARMSTRONGS ARE OLD AND VERY VERY CLOSE
FRIENDS OF BOTH ROVE AND CHENEY (going back 20 to 30 years)!
THEY ARE NOT CREDIBLE
Comment by Rocky #119
…we knew that five days ago…
February 16th, 2006 at 8:50 amVice President Cheney mentioned that he has the power to declassify classified information.
And I believe that opens up the possibility that if information about Plame was classified, then it was declassified in 2003 to allow for the legal disclosure of Plame’s role in the Joe Wilson story.
Comment by Gary Ruppert #75
Scary “Gary” Pookbutt,
Please pontificate (with that GREAT legal mind of yours) how such a disclosure mitigates Scooter Libby’s having LIED to a grand jury (perjury) and investigators (obstruction)?
…which btw are the charges against him…
February 16th, 2006 at 9:01 amArmstrong’s not much of a straight-shooter…
February 16th, 2006 at 9:08 amhmmm…Doesn’t too much alcohol affect one’s memory?
February 16th, 2006 at 9:27 amI’m not sure that Katherine Armstrong’s comments about the beer are really that inconsistent. The fact is, we know Cheney had at least one drink because he admitted it. There are many other questions, however, including one I’ve seen absolutely no one else ask and it’s bugging the daylights out of me:
February 16th, 2006 at 9:35 amHow can Whittington have a 5 mm piece of “birdshot” in or against his heart, when that’s twice the diameter of the #7 1/2 shot that Cheney was supposedly shooting? 5mm is closer to the size of BB shot, which is not used for quail hunting.
Awakened to my local radio station (WGN) in the midwest to hear the morning guy (very popular around here) say he felt compassion and sympathy for Cheney, who was so obviously upset. I threw my pillow at the radio. YAARRGH!
February 16th, 2006 at 9:38 am5 mm is the diameter of a .22. The M16 fires .22 caliber rounds. It’s a .223 caliber jacketed projectile, or NATO classification of 5.56 mm. The cartridge is much larger and longer than a .22 LR, obviously. The whole story stinks. What doesn’t stink about this admin. in particular and the GOP in general?
February 16th, 2006 at 10:02 am126: I think we can safely rule out a .223, since that would have gone all the way through the man and disappeared in the distance. A shotgun shell loaded with BB shot is more likely, but it still begs the question of how Whittington could have been hit with so many. A 28 guage with BB shot only holds 50 pellets max.
February 16th, 2006 at 10:18 amIf Rove had to be the one to get dick fudd to say something, it only confirms who is really running the regime. Burger Boy is doing ads for corporate health/drugs/and fries, just reading the script like a good little ‘Georgie McCarthy’
February 16th, 2006 at 10:20 am(No offense to Mr. Bergen)
I am holding out for nothing less than sworn testimony from the Ambassador to Switzerland, the attendant Secret Service personnel, and Ms. Armstrong. Oh, and of course, the victim Mr. Witthington.
Your support and voices will be appreciated.
#106,
February 16th, 2006 at 11:10 amyou make a good point, if the title of the article was, “Armstrong and Cheney tell different story”, I would shut up. But it’s not. The title is, “Armstrong Can’t Keep Her Story Straight”. But Armstrong’s story is consistent. It disagrees with Cheney’s (on some points not even mentioned – did she discuss with Cheney that she would talk to the press? Armstrong – no, Cheney – yes).
Now, I can’t make it any more clear. Armstrong’s story DOESN’T change. This is a crap article and I’m disappointed with Think Progress, who’s work is usually stellar.
#124 – Uncle Sam,
February 16th, 2006 at 11:26 amThe Great White Hunter has weak teeth, he prefers to pregrind his game in the field.
126: I think we can safely rule out a .223, since that would have gone all the way through the man and disappeared in the distance. A shotgun shell loaded with BB shot is more likely, but it still begs the question of how Whittington could have been hit with so many. A 28 guage with BB shot only holds 50 pellets max.
Comment by Uncle Sam
I was only telling you that 5 mm is about the diameter of a .22. There are even kits for AR 15s to convert them to fire .22 longrifle. You don’t have to even mod the barrel. The number of pellets depends on the size of the shot and if the gun is chambered for reg or magnum rounds.
February 16th, 2006 at 11:27 amI believe that almost every state has laws requiring that all medical facilities report all gunshot wounds immediately. Is Corpus Christi exempt?
February 16th, 2006 at 11:44 amGGG – The most powerful 28 gauge shell available, that I can find, is a 2.75 inch shell that fires a one-ounce shot load. There are 50 lead BB pellets in one ounce. There’s a chart at
Whether the shot in Whittington is really BB and whether BB is available for 28 gauge are entirely different matters. BB is actually 4.57 mm, so 5 is rounding up to the nearest sized shot.
28 gauge is not a widely used bore and the shells can be hard to come by. A lot of people apparently load their own in order to get the load they want.
All this makes for another question. How did Whittington get a BB shot in him when the official report says Cheney was shooting #7 1/2 shot (2.39 mm in diameter,350 to the ounce).
February 16th, 2006 at 11:46 amThe chart I mentioned is at http://www.shotgunworld.com/amm.html
February 16th, 2006 at 11:47 amOh boy, I hope you are going with Cheney on the leak, because, it has been proven that Plame was not only under cover when she was outed, but she was also working on Irans nuclear weapons program. You know, the US’ next target.
If we get screwed by Iran, it will directly be Cheney’s fault.
Keep rooting for Cheney did it. I am 100% behind you.
February 16th, 2006 at 11:59 amUncle Sam,
I was in the US Army and was trained on the M-16A2. The .223 round from an M16-A2 would not go all the way through a man, just as a standard .22 long rifle wouldn’t. They are notorious for bouncing around inside of people. Sometimes they come out, but no in the front of you shoulder, say and out the back. More like in the front of your shoulder and out by your kidney.
You could make the round go in the front of a shoulder and out the back of that shoulder, but the person would have to be very very close.
February 16th, 2006 at 12:05 pmI will agree with your point, but it doesn’t make it a crap story, it makes it a crap headline as you pointed out.
February 16th, 2006 at 12:08 pmUncle Sam: Where did the 5mm shot pellet come from?
February 16th, 2006 at 12:13 pmI’m pretty sure that no pellet that size would be loaded in 28 gauge shot gun shells. That is closer to one of the smaller buck shot loads like 0-Buck or 4-0 Buck, which are unlikely to be loaded in 28 ga. shells, as they are most often used in 12 ga. riot guns by peace officers.
http://www.avengingangels.org
http://www.avengingangels.org/images/AA%20MIsc./AA_CHENEYRev.gif
February 16th, 2006 at 1:27 pm
February 16th, 2006 at 1:27 pmhttp://www.avengingangels.org
February 16th, 2006 at 1:28 pmUncle Sam,
We don’t know what Cheney was shooting or what kind of rounds loaded with what kind of shot he was firing because whatever happened was covered up. Period.
Spudge,
The original M16, Nam era, was a full auto weapon. That caused the tubes to overheat and burn out quick, the rifling was gone and that led to the dum-dum effect of the rounds. The 3 round burst was implemented to alleviate that problem. Now while it is true that the weight in grains of your standard .223 round is very light, 155, I think, as compared to the heavier weight of the NATO 7.62 projectile, the muzzle velocity of the M 16 is almost 4000 fps and it has a very high penetration. The problem is that it’s mass is so low that most of the energy is expended at the strike point and it is easily deflected by bone or other internal structures with mass. This also leads to the phenomenon you speak off but don’t kid yourself. That round can go through a couple of people at close range.
February 16th, 2006 at 3:03 pm[...] (via thinkprogres.org) It seems, Katharine Armstrong – the “star witness†to Cheney’s hunting accident – can’t keep her story straight: [...]
February 16th, 2006 at 3:03 pmOh Brother…..The only thing that stands out to me in this story is that Cheney Lies! Period! If it isn’t clear, I don’t know what is!!
If the White House, and all the inconsistant “statements” from the “experts eye witnesses” around this basic little story doesn’t point out the obvious.
They KNOWINGLY LIE and decieve.
His obvious …screw you…you can’t touch me attitude is embarassing.
If they (Cheney handlers) will go to this length to cover up, confuse and lie about this…imagine (wink wink) what is happening with everything else!
For the last 5 years Republicans have been defending this moron and the rest of this administration. They suggest that on every “inconsistant instance” that either it was “faulty” information or someone elses fault. They continue to point out over and over again that they never “misled’ anyone…the real truth is they LIED.
This administration has “zero zip zulch” credibility!! Charge this man.
February 17th, 2006 at 11:13 amEnough already.
What is wrong with this picture?? This is just another typical famous person trying to cover thier tracks.
February 18th, 2006 at 1:39 pmRight in line with OJ and Michael Jackson. How much is this going to cost Cheney?
Bottom Line: Does anyone think any other American’s would get away with illegal activity as Drinking and Hunting, then not reporting the incident until Cheney had a drink to cover up the evidence. All the while OUR BRAVE TROOPS are being led into battle for what???? To honor a leadership that disgraces thier own Country???
America is loosing respect around the world because of this foolishness. May the world know that the majority of Americans are starting to wake up and hopefully take action to stop the inner destruction of this country.
This is not political, this is just standing up for what is honest and true. Elected official or not. If we ran our personnal finances like our country is being led right now, you can bet we would be in jail for righting bad checks.
I’ve seen Whittington press conference video twice now. And I’ve got to ask, is it just my tired old eyes? Or is anybody else missing any scars a recent shot in the face with a shotgun would most certainly leave. Or is he really Odo, the shape shifter from the sci-fi universe? Of course there wouldn’t be any reason to fake the whole thing to divert the attention away from what is in PLAME sight, would it? Just curious.
February 18th, 2006 at 2:11 pmTrueblue….go check out FAIR.org’s web posting about that ABC story. They left out an important part…that the people speaking said the weapons HAD BEEN DESTROYED. Plus, this was a tape from 1995. So, not only did the Bush administration people who saw this video ignore the important part of it, ABC did too.
AND…about Cheney being an alcoholic…he was kicked out of college for drinking. HOW much does one have to drink to get kicked out of *college* for it, for chrissake.
February 19th, 2006 at 1:02 am