The White House, President George W. Bush Click to print this document

For Immediate Release
October 9, 2006

Setting the Record Straight: Bob Woodward On "Meet The Press"

     Fact sheet Setting the Record Straight

On "Meet The Press," Bob Woodward Implies The Administration Waited Until It Knew Woodward Possessed A Secret Pentagon Report To Release A Public Report Showing Increasing Violence In Iraq.  RUSSERT: "One of the things they say is you keep saying that the level of violence against American troops was a secret. They say a public report was given to the American people, which demonstrated – said just that."  WOODWARD: "After I took the secret document, which I have here, I mean, I hate to show secret documents on television, but I guess I'll have to. Why was this document secret?"  RUSSERT: "When did you show that to the administration?"  WOODWARD: "In May, June, and then, couple of months later, the exact information was made public. They knew I had it. Now, I mean, just look at what that shows. If that was – that's what's called a pattern, increased violence. It even has gone up in the last couple of months. That's the reality. They were keeping it classified until I got a hold of it."  (NBC's "Meet The Press," 10/8/06)

The Administration Has Been Consistently Transparent About Terrorist Violence In Iraq

On "Meet The Press," Woodward Claims The Administration Said The Terrorists Were In "Retreat."  RUSSERT: "They say the President in May and throughout the year has always said Iraq is difficult, going to be more difficult. Saying exactly..." WOODWARD:  "But, but, but he didn't say that. He said it's hard, everyone knows it's hard, but he said the terrorists are in retreat."  (NBC's "Meet The Press," 10/8/06)

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