Big deal Denman, Philthy Phil the Paddington...

Big deal Denman, Philthy Phil the Paddington Pastoralist

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Naughty Naughtie

The international press deconstructs Colin Powell's foul language.

By Michael Young
Posted Monday, Sept. 13, 2004, at 9:22 AM PT

The international press was alive with Middle East-related stories on Sunday and Monday, including reports of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's use of a bad word, American admonitions to Syria, and the horrendous death toll in fighting in Iraq, including the on-air death of a journalist.

London's weekly Observer reported that a "furious row" had broken out over the claim in a book published by BBC broadcaster James Naughtie that Powell had referred to several Bush administration colleagues as "f*cking crazies" in summer 2002, during the build-up to war in Iraq. The paper noted that "the 'crazies' are said to be Vice-President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and his deputy, Paul Wolfowitz." The secretary's outburst was allegedly made during a telephone conversation with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. Both Powell and Straw contacted Naughtie's American publisher (who will be quoting the phrase on the book jacket) to "say they would vigorously deny the claims if publication went ahead." The paper observed that "as no legal action was threatened, the U.S. launch of the book, The Accidental American: Tony Blair and the Presidency, will proceed as planned this week." Naughtie was said to be "privately delighted" with the furor. The real story, though, is why it should matter. Two of the "crazies" famously used the F-word publicly in recent times and didn't even bother to attach it to an alleviating noun. Powell should copyright the phrase and award Naughtie the Department of State Medal.

While Powell was denying, one of his deputies, Assistant Secretary of State William Burns, was doing some affirmingÑin Damascus, with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Saturday meeting was important because it was the most senior contact between American and Syrian officials since passage 10 days ago of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559, which the United States co-sponsored and which calls on Syria (though Syria isn't mentioned directly) to withdraw its forces from Lebanon and respect Lebanese sovereignty.

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