Didya catch Armitage's nonanswer to the question about the threat

[Skidmore]

to Pakistan on CNN a little while ago? When all was said and done, he did not deny making a threat. He just said that Musharaf thought he would be speaking with a friend and was probably suprised to find himself dealing with someone who had concerns about the world post 9/11. That there was no room to negotiate. He did not actually deny using words that would threaten to bomb Pakistan into the stone ages. I don't care how the press characterizes this, he did not deny.

[snappyturtle]

1. Tony Blair better be careful.....

Mushie might become *'s favorite lap dog!

[lonestarnot]

5. Can poodle's have a lap dog?

[cliss]

2. Well, then that means he's changing his story.

This is what the Yahoo article said (from this morning)

(Ok I just double checked Yahoo & Armitage's comments are gone)

I'm going to paraphrase what Armitage said:

'I never make a threat I'm not prepared to carry out, and I did not have the ability to bomb Pakistan, so I could not have made this threat'.

* * * * * *

So the question here is DID Richard Armitage have the ability to bomb Pakistan? Or was he just bluffing?

Either way, he most assuredly threatened them, I have no doubts about that.

[Skidmore]

3. Wow, that statement was also a nonanswer.

and a fine example of circular thinking. He could not have made the threat because he did not have the ability to carry through on it? Well he may not have but those above him certainly could. Armitage did not have to have the ability to carry out an attack. All he needed was the ability to pass a threat on. I agree wholeheartedly with you. He threatened them, and I imagine * repeated that threat to ole Musharaf on this current visit. So we have Musharaf sitting a *'s side smiling and kowtowing and being told "good job" when he was done with the press conference.

[warrens]

4. Musharref no doubt has the entire conversation on tape

He should release it.