Something to be familiar with in advance (Kerry transcript re: tora bora)

[troublemaker]

The Bush campaign seems very excited about this insofar as it's been selectively quoted by a dozen RW inernet liars and fellow travellers like Sullivan and Kaus may be the topic of a news story Monday. So everyone please read the transcript in context before hearing it out of context in the coming days. Kerry was giving an innocuous answer to a sort of loopy Larry King caller who was asking about flame-throwers.

One petty note about this transcript. Many, like me, don't like that Kerry said 'minimalize' instead of 'minimize,' but at least Kerry was speaking extemporaneously, unlike our fearless leader use of "minimalize" while reading a prepared reading a speech: http://www.whitehouse.org/news/2001/051601.asp)

Un-doctored Larry King transcript

KING: Mount Holly Springs, Pennsylvania—hello.

CALLER: Hello. Yes, I would like to ask the panel why they don’t use napalm or flamethrowers on those tunnels and caves up there in Afghanistan?

KING: Senator Kerry?

CALLER: My golly, I think they could smoke him out.

KING: Senator Kerry?

KERRY: Well, I think it depends on where you are tactically. They may well be doing that at some point in time. But for the moment, what we are doing, I think, is having its impact and it is the best way to protect our troops and sort of minimalize the proximity, if you will. I think we have been doing this pretty effectively and we should continue to do it that way.

KING: Congressman Cunningham, what do you think of that question?

CUNNINGHAM: I think Senator Kerry is right on the mark. To use a flamethrower, you’ve got to get right into the area close in. And plus, it doesn’t penetrate that deep in those tunnels. You’ve got to go in there after him. So I think you have to neutralize that threat. And then you can get him out in a lot of different, various ways including what the gentleman spoke about.

KING: General Joulwan, what are your thoughts?

JOULWAN: Well, I think what you are seeing here are laser- designated bombs going in that are highly effective. In fact, I think much more effective than napalm will be given the extent of these tunnels. You may see some of this when the troops get in there, you have troops on the ground. But right now, I think the laser- designated bombs are doing a great job.
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transcript:
http://cnnstudentnews.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0112/14/lkl.00.html

Selective RW quote examples here:
http://www.andrewsullivan.com/index.php?dish_inc=archives/2004_10_17_dish_archive.html#109832627200710613http://justoneminute.typepad.com/main/2004/10/tora_bora_no_ma.html
http://www.cabalofdoom.com/cgi-bin/mt-tb.cgi?__mode=view&entry_id=1254


Debunkings:
I've read several on blogs I read but I'm not finding them redily. Please add de-bunking/discussion links in this thread