Bill Clinton revives Hillary's Bosnia "misspeak" affair

I'd almost forgotten about Hillary Clinton's sniper fire "misspeak". I imagine much of America had too, the episode long eclipsed by the latest campaign slip-up under the merciless, yet mercifully forgetful, microscope of 24 hour news.

That was until Bill Clinton decided to revive the whole sorry affair by mounting a "defence" of his wife - and, true to form, added a few "misspeaks" of his own for good measure. His account was leapt upon by the US media, who delighted in pointing the several inconsistencies in round-the-clock replays beamed across the nation.

Numerous commentators questioned whether Mr Clinton - who seems have been suffering from a recurring case of foot-in-mouth disease since the start of the campaign - actually wanted his wife in the White House. Joe Scarborough, an MSNBC host, played the Bill Clinton clip several times on Friday morning, including once as he opened an interview with David Axelrod, Barack Obama's campaign strategist.

"I'm going to ask you exactly how the Obama campaign is funneling money to Bill Clinton," Scarborough jibed. "Whether it's in cash deposits below $10,000 or whether it's a barter system like you let him golf at Augusta National in return for statements like this."

Watch the video below, then scroll down for the list of inaccuracies as reported by ABC's Jake Tapper, who has a thorough analysis of the various explanations (oh yes, he repeated it - several times) the former president put forward. You can also read the full news story here.

The "misspeaks":

(1) Her most glaringly wrong telling of the tale, on March 17, 2008, was in the morning.
(2) She actually told versions of the story several times. (And none was at night.)
(3) The then-acting Bosnian President, Ejup Ganic, did not say there were snipers in the hills. In an e-mail to journalist Eric Jansson, he said "we didn't expect snipers," though, "we still believed that some positions on the hills were occupied by radical Serbs, so I was worried about the overall safety."
(4) The passengers were not directed to sit on their flak jackets, according to the pilot, Colonel William "Goose" Changose (Ret.), who said, "nobody under my watch has ever directed anyone to sit on their flak jackets. ... We do not direct people to sit on their flak jackets."
(5) Her acknowledgment wasn't immediate at all - it was 11 days later, first in an editorial board meeting with the Philadelphia Inquirer/Philadelphia Daily News, then later in a press availability.
(6) She never apologised.
(7) Her trip was in 1996 - after the war had ended - not 1995.
(8) He qualified it with "I think," Mrs Clinton was not the first lady to go to a war zone. Then-first lady Pat Nixon went to a combat zone in Saigon, Vietnam, in July 1969.

Comments

[John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada]

I do think there are parallels here with Senator "Darth Vader" Dole, unsuccessful Republican presidential candidate.

Dole made such serious errors and stupidly ill-considered remarks while his wife sought the nomination later that many felt he was deliberately sabotaging her.

Reportedly, his wife felt that way too.

I'm sure there is an element of this with Bill Clinton. After all, despite his superficial charm, his lifetime behavior shows a pretty cavalier attitude towards women.

[victor compton]

It's quite possible that Bill is simply showing signs of senile dementia or even Parkinson's, due to bad diet most of his life. And, he might have been a little drunk. Many performers in the South used to drink a shot glass of whiskey before going on stage, and Bill is after all just a Southern performer. Hillary is the unsuccessful understudy, finally getting her chance, who clutches up when ever she forgets a line, and has to say SOMETHING to the audience which wasn't in the script. Also, so many politicians in the old guard, say so many off the wall absurdities, that I am beginning to think that many of them are drug addicts, taking anything from pain pills and speed, to cocaine. Therefore I would like to suggest periodic impromptu drug and alcohol tests for politicians.

[jack]

How anyone can even think of putting clintons in office again is beyond me !he was thrown out and anyone who lies as good as they do cannot be trusted to lead the country ,especially billy boy (i did not have sexual relations with that woman ) yeah have a cigar billy boy !monica sure did lol ! they are yesterdays news and a discrace for the usa ,once a liar allways a liar !!

[PAT]

Hillary is a liar. Her pants are on fire. Her nose is as long as a telephone wire, every day of her life. Simple as that.

[cosmo mognic]

"Misspeaks"? Don't you mean lies?

[Tony Gold]

It's all academic, anyway. I cannot believe that the American people would vote in a Democrat as president. Compare the gaff-prone Obama and wannabe Clinton with the pragmatism of McCain and the immense international professionalism of Condoleeza Rice. It is not a political issue, rather one of common sense. Who would people rather have steering the ship?

[Rip Tide]

Yes..America's Answer To The British Royal Family..King Bill And Queen-wanna.be Hillary.

These two are famous for "Story Telling" No..No..They never lie; they just twist the Real Truth where you can't Recognize it!! Bill Clinton as an esteemed Attorney. He could probably convince a Jury Humpty Dumpty did not really fall off the wall...he was pushed by The conservative talk show hosts here in America. (Sean Hannity And Rush Limbaugh two very Bright and Astute Individuals The "Left" Hate.)

[AJ Jones]

As a U.S. active duty service member, I served three tours in Bosnia peacekeeping operations between 1995-2004. I would definitely resign at 15 years of service if she became my Commander In Chief because I refuse to work for a Commander-In-Chief with such an integrity issue as hers. Regarding the misspeak on her detailed account of her trip to Bosnia- I have for years tried to be open-minded with regard to Hillary and her husbands contributions to our country, the USA. In working with many NATO partners in the past, the Clintons have won influence of most of my foreign nation/NATO colleagues. Hillary even has some of the U.S. officer corps divided. Many are pro-Hillary over her support to stem-cell research. She should have concentrated on what her strengths were, not some lie she schemed to show that she has military experience. In the Bosnia peacekeeping operations, the biggest threat were the landmines. Hardly ever was there any sniper fire (directed). There was some indirect fire in contentious border areas and that was it. We did not have body armor back in the Bosnia operation days, we only had flak-vests, not bullet proof. I do not know any European/Eastern European/Balkans (and I stay in touch with many) people who would have ever wanted to direct sniper fire at the Clintons back in the Balkans era. The international world loved the Clintons.

This just shows me how ignorant Hillary Clinton really is.

[PhilM]

Either Clinton -- apologise? That will be the day. They are both grifters and charlatans, oblivious to the damage they have both caused to the body politic in this country, and turned the term "liberal" into an epithet. They should be ignored, as in "Sent to Coventry", but there are too many sycophants tied to their strings.

[Victor Marriott]

Why does everyone duck away from telling it how it is? The simple fact is that Hillary Clinton is proven liar and no claim by her that she simply mis-spoke will alter the facts. She lied when she said she was named after Sir Edmund Hillary, his fame came after she was born, she lied when she said that as a child she used to listen with her parents to a union theme tune, it wasn't composed until she was an adult. How can anyone think they came under gunfire when they didn't especially when in the company of their only child.

[MelanieL]

Hannah, I'm really looking forward to seeing your piece on the latest gaffe from Obama - you know, the one where he accuses working class Americans of "clinging to guns and religion" to help them deal the "bitterness" they feel at having lost their jobs. Oh, and don't forget to include a comment on the xenophobia too. Of course Obama is so focused on the world as seen through the lens of the Rev Wright, that he has forgotten that America is founded on immigration - a fact embraced and celebrated across America, but why let that spoil Obama's curious relationship with fact and reality. Before I forget, why don't you check out the BBC World Service Outlook archive - they had a very good interview with the young girl who greeted Sen Clinton in Bosnia - check out how people who were there at the time think about what actually happened.

[adrian leitch]

The Alzheimers Gambit?
Clever!
I am a Brit married to an American
living in Africa.
I know only that whomever America elects
in November
will have huge impact on all three parts of my life.
Republican or Democrat thats OK by me
But not another who believes their own lies

[adrian leitch]

I have a post script
If the next President of the US wants to know
how to lead the world
he/she should take a long look at the Australian Prime Minister's speech ( in Mandarin) to the Chinese people on the issue of human rights.
He is the coolest geek
I have heard in a long time!

[simon lomax]

politics is power. nothing more. The reason i say that is because the democrats were given control of both congress and the senate to end the iraq war. That was two years ago. But instead the occupation continues.Remember how they told you the war would be paid for with the oil? not true. didn't happen.

[Doug Hockenberry]

Ms. Strange, what you write of is, indeed, as true as it is curious. It does beg the question, 'Why?'

I'll operate under the assumption that Mr. Clinton is not a complete idiot. This leaves two realistic positions available: either Mr. Clinton doesn't want to see his wife as president or this is simply a ploy for media attention.

While thoughts of a revenge scenario are tempting and ego trips run rampant in Washington, I'll dismiss the former possibility, even though I wouldn't bet the farm on doing so.

My guess is that it is more likely that this was a media ploy. They got the coverage, as you cited. Furthermore, Mr. Clinton can appologize for his misstatements later in a way that is truly his own, as we witnessed during his term. History shows that the man lies to suit his own needs. We just need to be conscious of the motives and whether they suit us.

[Jo]

They do sweat the small stuff don't they?

I would like someone to pick her up on her policy to that part of the world, to EU, to violence, to US involvement, to the spending on military, etc.

[John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada]

Re: Bill's possible senile dementia...

Perhaps, too many Big Macs? He was inordinately fond of bolting them down.

Or something caught during his many escapades with women of every description?