Amy Branham: Hillary Clinton merely "misspoke" about her trip to Bosnia?

Bosnia truth!!! Straight Shooting From Tuzla E-Mail Print Save Share Digg Facebook Mixx Yahoo! Buzz Permalink By LISSA MUSCATINE and MELANNE VERVEER Published: April 1, 2008 Washington AS staff members who traveled with the first lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, to Bosnia in March 1996, we have followed with more than passing interest the extensive news coverage of her landing in Tuzla. Video footage clearly shows that Mrs. Clinton’s assertions that she landed “under fire” and that the arrival ceremony was canceled were wrong. She said so herself last week. Yet even since she acknowledged her mistake, the commentary has continued unabated. Reports are now being embellished (to borrow the term du jour) to suggest that Bosnia was not really a danger zone. Her visiting American troops on a peacekeeping mission in a hostile environment is now being treated as if it were a trip to the beach. During a week of nonstop coverage, few journalists went beyond the irresistible video footage to ask what else happened on this trip and how Mrs. Clinton might have erred in the details about the landing in Tuzla. So here are some facts that provide context: We flew in a C-17 cargo plane from Germany to Bosnia precisely because it was capable of steep descents and ascents into and out of areas of conflict. We were issued flak jackets on the plane before landing in Tuzla and were told the tarmac ceremony might be canceled or curtailed due to sniper fire from the surrounding hillsides. The first lady and Chelsea Clinton were moved to the armored cockpit for the landing. Armored vehicles were placed around the tarmac, and Apache helicopters hovered overhead. In a recent e-mail message to a British blogger, Ejup Ganic, who was the acting president of Bosnia during Mrs. Clinton’s visit, wrote: “I remember that visit quite well. Although the NATO troops were in Tuzla, we still believed that some positions on the hills were occupied by radical Serbs, so I was worried about the overall safety.” The planned welcoming ceremony was shortened, he said, but it still lasted a bit longer than expected because a nongovernment group brought along a little girl to sing to the first lady. Later, Mrs. Clinton flew from Tuzla to two military outposts by helicopter, escorted by Apache gunships. As has been reported, Mrs. Clinton’s trip to Bosnia included a U.S.O. component with the comedian Sinbad and the singer Sheryl Crow. The helicopters that carried them to performances at American base camps zigzagged just above the trees to avoid potential ground fire, according to Carey Cavanaugh, who was then a State Department official traveling with Sinbad, and helicopters flew alongside to deal with the threat of anti-aircraft fire or snipers. These facts explain why many of us, including the first lady, believed that the conditions on the ground were precarious. We were worried about sniper fire and were prepared to rush off the tarmac when we landed. In their single-minded focus on the landing in Tuzla, reporters and commentators have omitted any discussion of what Mrs. Clinton accomplished on her trip. In addition to showing support for our troops and for the peace accords in Bosnia, Mrs. Clinton met with Bosnian religious leaders, women and community activists and, when she returned to Washington, was able to give administration officials her firsthand assessment of the nascent reconstruction effort. After leaving Bosnia, she met with leaders of Turkey and Greece and in those countries promoted efforts on behalf of international development and democracy. In Istanbul, five years before 9/11, Mrs. Clinton presciently convened representatives of some of the world’s major religions to advance a dialogue about religious reconciliation and ways to counter religious extremism. The video of her arrival on the tarmac in Bosnia may be great theater and easy fodder for commentators, but it shouldn’t be allowed to obscure what else was happening on this important trip when the cameras weren’t rolling. Now I'm not hear to say she didn't exaggerate & puff up the story, but it certainly wasn't a walk in the park as you & the media are trying to project. In fact drprodny & assinine, I have no doubt you two would have wet your pants when they told you to put the flak jackets on & go into the armored cockpit!! And please stop calling yourself Progressives, you're far left radials that are destroying the Party!

Seeing the reference to the accomplishments of the Clinton (then-FLOTUS) Bosnia trip in 1996, and the good work done later on in Greece and Turkey, I need to add a fact or two. A good friend who was then assigned to the US Embassy in Athens when she visited there in 1996 has long described the Hillary trip as the model for what we should never never never hope to see in her staffing and organization if she becomes President. No people skills. This friend tells of Hillary's determination to visit the Greek islands in spring 1996 (election year, no?). Her people insisted to visit 5 sites in preparation, requiring the use of a small government plane. They would not take the State Department's candid advice that photos of the first lady hanging out on the Greek islands would not be helpful for Bill's reelection efforts. Finally, finally cooler heads prevailed a few days before her visit and they cancelled the Greek island junket (it was to be Santorini). But the staff would not take the concept of excessive political cost on board until zero hour (and lots of wasted planning/funds). That's exactly what we need for the White House now, in terms of sensitivity and experience. You can argue that back then the First Lady's office (FLOTUS) was small and inconsequential, but if Hillary couldn't get the best people for her then very small (elite?) staff, we might want to ask how she will do better now. At least my friend wants to know...... ---------------------------------------------------------- Too long in the Balkans.......but there is always hope.

You Obama cult fanatics are jumping at anything you can to bring down the Democratic Party and all who have ever been associated with it. Karl Rove is very proud of you knotheads doing his bidding for him. Who is making excuses for you? No One, because you and your ilk's ignorant antics are so childish as to be unforgivable. Now, add me to your list, fool, and try to dismiss everything I say because I see your stupidity too.

C'mon ....... admit it. You know you love me.

BTW - "Hillaryinistras"? ... Nice! - I voted for Edwards, but if you insist on adopting Limbaugh language, I guess I would be a "Clintonista".

I'd love to hear you justify it, Yman - w/OUT attacking Obama and genuine Progressives like me like you do instead of answering the question. And no I cannot believe that YOU voted for Edwards, YMan - you're too deep in the Clinstone Kool-Aid to have voted for the same man I did.

I am nominating you for the dumbest person ever to have posted on this site. What a fool you are, dr prod. You get your panties in a wad over the most ignorant things.

... about the Hillary Bosnia trip because I couldn't care less about it. It's the latest equivalent of Gore's earth tone/love canal attacks, or Kerry's swiss cheese cheesesteak, or Edward's haircuts.

Oh, I know .... you care about it because it shows her true character and credibility, right? But then the same would hold true for any candidate, right? I could easily point out more than a dozen misstatements/exagerations/lies from Obama, but to what end? I couldn't care less about those either. Why not? Essentially because I'm more concerned about the policy positions and the electability of Obama and Clinton than any misstatements or campaign puff talk (i.e. resume exageration). Do I care if they're truthful? Sure ... but I care if they're truthful about substantive, material matters, not whether Hillary landed under actual sniper fire (as opposed to threats of snipers) or whether Obama minimized his connections and contributions from Tony Rezko ($50,000-$60,000 as opposed to more than triple that amount).

As for whether you believe I voted for Edwards ... do you honestly believe I care what you think? Wow ............ talk about delusional.

BTW - Still waiting to hear where Hillary Clinton pledged to exclude the results of the Florida and Michigan primaries. Can't believe you caught that while every news outlet in the country missed it!

I posted on Buzzfash 15 "misspeaks" that Obama had made. My posts were deleted after about a day. To say this site is fair & honest anymore would be a "Big misspeak"!!!!! That sounds like communist tactics. Of course, I have seen & heard many comments that the "Democratic Far left Radials" have a communist agenda. The shoe seems to fit for some of you Obama Cult worshipers.