Mark my words … I mean what I say

0 Comments | Insight on the News, Nov 19, 2001 | by John Elvin

"Judging from news reports and the portrayal of villains in our popular entertainment, Americans are bedeviled by fantasies about terrorism. They seem to believe that terrorism is the greatest threat to the United States and that it is becoming more widespread and lethal. They are likely to think that the United States is the most popular target for terrorists. And they almost certainly have the impression that extremist Islamic groups cause most terrorism. None of these beliefs are based on fact."

-- From the "Thank-God-I-didn't-write-that-one" file. The opening of an op-ed by a former State Department counterterrorism specialist that appeared in the New York Times on July 10.

"I don't believe the other leaders in the House are wimps.... There's no wimps over there.... Well, I could name one or two."

-- Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) commenting on criticism of House leaders for leaving town in the face of the anthrax scare.

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