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Biden flashback: On second thought, I wasn’t really “shot at”

By Michelle Malkin  •  August 24, 2008 12:38 PM

Hillary had her Great Bosnia Snipergate caper.

Joe Biden had his own, too. Another stellar example of his foreign policy and military cred. This is a photoshop contest waiting to happen.

Flashback August 2007:

Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) — whose garrulous ways have led to a number of verbal gaffes over the years — has revised a dramatic comment that he was “shot at” in the Green Zone during a trip to Iraq.

Biden made the brief comment during the CNN/YouTube Democratic debate two weeks ago, as he was emphasizing how difficult it would be to redeploy U.S. citizens and troops out of Iraq if the U.S. decided to withdraw in six months.

“Let’s start telling the truth,” he said. “Number one, you take all the troops out — you better have helicopters ready to take those 3,000 civilians inside the Green Zone, where I have been seven times and shot at. You better make sure you have protection for them, or let them die, number one.”

When asked for a detailed account of the experience, Biden described three incidents on two separate Iraq trips in which he felt that he was shot at or might have been shot at. Only one of them took place inside the Green Zone, he said, and involved a “shot” landing outside the building where he and other senators were staying. He added that the vehicle he was traveling in the day before might also have been hit.

Biden said the incident happened in the morning while he and at least one other senator were shaving. Although he said it shook the building, he wasn’t rattled enough to duck and cover.

“No one got up and ran from the room—it wasn’t that kind of thing,” he said. “…It’s not like I had someone holding a gun to my head.”

Thinking about it now, he said, a more accurate comment would have been: “I was near where a shot landed.”

Posted in: Barack Obama, Iraq

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Comments

  1. #1
    On August 24th, 2008 at 12:43 pm, Garathorn said:

    Oh Goody! Me first!?
    Joe Biden! What an easter egg! Woooot!

  2. #2
    On August 24th, 2008 at 12:43 pm, Bruce said:

    I was pregnant once.

    Well, okay - my WIFE was pregnant, but I was near her when it happened.

    /snort

  3. #3
    On August 24th, 2008 at 12:44 pm, maine yankee said:

    CAMERA’S DON’T COUNT

  4. #4
    On August 24th, 2008 at 12:44 pm, meatpieandtatters said:

    Biden=doooooooofus of the highest order.

    :mrgreen:

  5. #5
    On August 24th, 2008 at 12:45 pm, bansharia said:

    curses am photoshop inept.
    am reminded of that Iraqi woman who claimed she was shot at and had shiney new unspent bullets to prove it!
    happy Blessed Sunday Michelle are you going to the interfaith DNC charade
    to hear the muslim brotherhood female speak?

  6. #6
    On August 24th, 2008 at 12:46 pm, Onamesa said:

    Perhaps this ‘experience’ in Iraq will prepare him for all the ‘incoming’ of this campaign that is about to descend upon him.

  7. #7
    On August 24th, 2008 at 12:46 pm, love2rumba said:

    Joeph Biden:

    May the Gaffes (and your law school plagiarism) be with you always!

    Feel the love, dude

  8. #8
    On August 24th, 2008 at 12:46 pm, meatpieandtatters said:

    The roots on Biden’s hair plugs obviously have interfered with his reasoning and intelligence, what little of it he had to begin with anyway.

    :x

  9. #9
    On August 24th, 2008 at 12:46 pm, twiggman said:

    I was near where a shot landed once…It was Jack Danial’s and it hit my belly…

  10. #10
    On August 24th, 2008 at 12:49 pm, bansharia said:

    The shot heard round the Biden world

  11. #11
    On August 24th, 2008 at 12:53 pm, backwoods conservative said:

    I’ve pulled a few triggers in my time. Does that count?

  12. #12
    On August 24th, 2008 at 1:01 pm, maine yankee said:

    The only time he’s ever been shot has been in the foot.

    And it’s been self inficted.

    He was awarded the ‘purple toe’ with cluster.

  13. #13
    On August 24th, 2008 at 1:02 pm, ajmontana said:

    The pic of Hillary in the tank is a classic, it shows exactly how crazy she looks….. call the good humor boys, she needs taken away.

  14. #14
    On August 24th, 2008 at 1:02 pm, concretebob said:

    Swiftboating:
    “Exposing the lies deceit,and fraud of self-glorifyimg officials or candidates for public office who exaggerate their military service or their vistis to combat zones.”

  15. #15
    On August 24th, 2008 at 1:04 pm, Marshall Russ said:

    When I was kid watching Buggs Bunny. Elmer Fudd would shoot at Buggs and Buggs would step out of the way. The bullet would make a u-turn in mid air and Buggs would step out of the way again. The bullet would then go through Elmer’s hat. You mean like that Joe?

  16. #16
    On August 24th, 2008 at 1:20 pm, MNUSMCDavid said:

    I was shot at… and have the scars and rebuilt calf muscle in my leg to prove it… do Joe Plugs and Hillary? I am not ashamed to challenge people that way.

  17. #17
    On August 24th, 2008 at 1:28 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    I’ve been around lots of gunfire myself.

    At the shooting range.

  18. #18
    On August 24th, 2008 at 1:29 pm, dadinseattle said:

    When your selling snake oil, and the current fad promoted by a whole news industry, is that everyone needs snake oil, than why not have the champs of the sales pitch on your team?
    However, remember this, snake oil doesn’t work!

  19. #19
    On August 24th, 2008 at 1:40 pm, Bruce said:

    bansharia,

    The classic from Dissident Frogmans Blog, “Shooty-No Shooty-Savvy?” video is one you must not miss. Take the link and click on the videos banner at the top. Pure genius.

    http://www.thedissidentfrogman.com/blog/

  20. #20
    On August 24th, 2008 at 1:40 pm, GaMidnightRider said:

    Once when i was in band camp we use to shoot at each other with home made cannons. Just like they shoot a Biden

    I was in the military and i know what it is to be shot at. That is something you do not forget.

  21. #21
    On August 24th, 2008 at 1:47 pm, ajmontana said:

    Bidet, Bubba and Hilldebeast at the DNC.
    Hope and Change, Hope and Change
    Click Clack, Click Clack

  22. #22
    On August 24th, 2008 at 1:47 pm, sonofdy said:

    I was in the military and i know what it is to be shot at. That is something you do not forget.

    Just what I was about to say.

  23. #23
    On August 24th, 2008 at 1:48 pm, longbow said:

    I was in the military and i know what it is to be shot at. That is something you do not forget.

    Roger that! You remember it if they missed, and even more if you got hit! It is seared, seared into your memory - and while it may come up in casual conversation with other military people rarely if ever do most feel any need to trumpet it on the street corner, unless they are the foolish, bragging type.

    I am sure Biden mentioned it only for effect, maybe just to pretend that he is more experienced and knows more than he actually does. Which he has to do all the time since he knows little and has done even less except be a world-class gasbag.

  24. #24
    On August 24th, 2008 at 1:55 pm, babiesgrandma said:

    Seriously, my husband was shot while serving in Viet Nam (yes, the same war that Haughty French John Kerry served in). You either are shot or you are missed. You SHOULD remember which it is. My hubby has a REAL Purple Heart to prove it, not one he ordered on a requisition form for himself.

  25. #25
    On August 24th, 2008 at 2:02 pm, Jvette said:

    I could hardly type to log in!

    My hat’s off to all who have chimed in so far. I laughed outloud at some of the posts.

    So, Kerry shot himself in the butt, Hillary dodged sniper fire from the hills and Biden may have been in a building where a bullet may have landed outside or in a car which may have been hit.

    I guess this is what passes for bonding among Democrats.

  26. #26
    On August 24th, 2008 at 2:03 pm, tonyr951 said:

    I won the US Open this year at Torrey Pines.

    Wait, it would be more accurate to say Tiger Woods won the US Open, I was just near where it happened.

    But it was Sudden Death, that counts for something, right?

  27. #27
    On August 24th, 2008 at 2:10 pm, MNUSMCDavid said:

    babiesgrandma

    I, too, am a Nam vet . Please relay a heart felt ” Welcome Home” to your husband for me.

  28. #28
    On August 24th, 2008 at 2:12 pm, Bruce said:

    Having been in 4 close range gunfights as a cop, I agree with my brothers in the military - it is not something you forget, and being in the vicinity doesn’t count.

    And thank you guys for your service. Real Americans appreciate it.

  29. #29
    On August 24th, 2008 at 2:12 pm, gunslingerpatriot said:

    No Jvette-this is what passes for liberal military combat creditentials when those that have been shot or faced hostile action don’t brag about it.

    They handle the memories in each way they see fit without boasting or wanting a pity party.

    Just this vet’s 2 1/2 cents worth! :P

  30. #30
    On August 24th, 2008 at 2:15 pm, Elizabetty said:

    Biden started his lie with the sentence,“Let’s start telling the truth?”

    Maybe the “Let’s start telling the truth,” was an internal pleading from his conscience that was accidently vocalized.

  31. #31
    On August 24th, 2008 at 2:15 pm, bansharia said:

    dang it.
    tried to thank a USS Forrestal vet
    at pajamas media and they deleted my comment what kind of crap is that?
    at anyrate God Bless you fellas here
    thank you and it IS appreciated ;)

  32. #32
    On August 24th, 2008 at 2:16 pm, twoninerkilo said:

      I’ve been shot at and missed, shot at and hit, but these two clowns look like they’ve been $hit at and hit, $hit at and missed repeatedly.

  33. #33
    On August 24th, 2008 at 2:20 pm, bansharia said:

    Gun,
    I have really cherished the WW2 accounts of late. That said no idea how
    it works perhaps vets from more recent
    wars are not ready to discuss or have yet to be asked ;(
    may we live long enough that EVERY vet
    is given same respect.
    again thank you.

  34. #34
    On August 24th, 2008 at 2:22 pm, rambler said:

    Biden needs to learn the difference between a gun shot, a firecracker or a car backfiring.

  35. #35
    On August 24th, 2008 at 2:31 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    It is true. Things are shot into a Bidet all of the time!

  36. #36
    On August 24th, 2008 at 2:42 pm, Marshall Russ said:

    On August 24th, 2008 at 2:31 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    It is true. Things are shot into a Bidet all of the time!

    Thanks for the imagery.

  37. #37
    On August 24th, 2008 at 2:43 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    Maybe it was a sonic boom he heard.

    No?

  38. #38
    On August 24th, 2008 at 2:47 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    On August 24th, 2008 at 2:42 pm, Marshall Russ said:
    Thanks for the imagery.

    Sorry for the typo. The “N” and “T” keys are next to each other. ;)

  39. #39
    On August 24th, 2008 at 2:49 pm, ajmontana said:

    I was sitting on a park bench once and pigeon poop hit the person next to me, not quite sniper fire but the pigeon did call in reinforcements. :roll:

  40. #40
    On August 24th, 2008 at 2:56 pm, DesertLover said:

    The last Democrat with any military credibility was the real JFK … and he would probably be a Republican today because the Dem party is nothing like the one he knew when he was President …

  41. #41
    On August 24th, 2008 at 3:18 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    DL,

    LOL - ain’t it the truth!

  42. #42
    On August 24th, 2008 at 3:46 pm, JT said:

    For all you patriots that know what is like to be shot and shot at, God Bless You All. My Dad is a Nam vet, a real one, not like frag your own butt Kerry.

    I’ve got friends in Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama and Biden make me want to puke. Both are phony patriots. Dad always said a patriot is who you are, you should never have to declare your patriotism.

  43. #43
    On August 24th, 2008 at 3:48 pm, JT said:

    And cops, firefighters, paramedics God Bless You All too.

  44. #44
    On August 24th, 2008 at 4:17 pm, Boomer said:

    From personal experience I have to agree with the young Winston Churchill is the thrill of being shot at without result. There is nothing to make you become one with the ground like the sound of a bullet whizzing past your ear. Been there, done that!

  45. #45
    On August 24th, 2008 at 4:35 pm, zorro said:

    There is enough material on this guy to script 3 seasons of Saturday Night Live. What a dimwit.

  46. #46
    On August 24th, 2008 at 4:43 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    Maybe he was shot at. maybe not, but I have a feeling he’s about to become cannon fodder…

  47. #47
    On August 24th, 2008 at 5:25 pm, BrianNY said:

    1. Political speeches -

    In September 1987, the campaign ran into serious trouble when he plagiarized a speech by Neil Kinnock, then-leader of the British Labour Party.

    2. Academic credentials -

    Biden also released his undergraduate grades, which started off poorly and remained unexceptional. Further, when questioned by a New Hampshire resident about his grades in law school, Biden had claimed falsely to have graduated in the “top half” of his class (when he actually graduated 76th in a class of 85), that he had attended on a full scholarship, and had received three degrees. In fact, he had received two majors, History and Political Science, and a single B.A., as well as a half scholarship based on financial need.

    3. Law school papers -

    Within days, it was also discovered that, while a first year law student at Syracuse Law School, Biden had plagiarized a law review article in a class paper he wrote. Though the then-dean of the law school, as well as Biden’s former professor, played down the incident of plagiarism, they did find that Biden drew “chunks of heavy legal prose directly from” the article in question. Biden said the act was inadvertent due to his not knowing the proper rules of citation, and Biden was permitted to retake the course after receiving a grade of F, which was subsequently dropped from his record.

    3. War zone stories -

    Thinking about it now, he said, a more accurate comment would have been: “I was near where a shot landed.”

    I hate sounding like a broken record, but why do the most prominent democrat candidates always pretend to be something they are not? Don’t these guys ever get vetted?

    1. Gore “working perimeter duty and discharging his weapon in Vietnam.”

    2. Kerry “infiltrating Cambodia during Christmas of 1968.”

    3. Biden getting “shot at” in the Green Zone.

  48. #48
    On August 24th, 2008 at 6:00 pm, atheling said:

    why do the most prominent democrat candidates always pretend to be something they are not?

    Like when al Gore invented the internet? Or when Hillary dodged sniper fire?

    What puzzles me is why don’t their constituents notice that? I guess they’re blinded by love.

  49. #49
    On August 24th, 2008 at 6:40 pm, JT said:

    I hate sounding like a broken record, but why do the most prominent democrat candidates always pretend to be something they are not? Don’t these guys ever get vetted?

    1. Gore “working perimeter duty and discharging his weapon in Vietnam.”

    2. Kerry “infiltrating Cambodia during Christmas of 1968.”

    3. Biden getting “shot at” in the Green Zone.

    All are liars. My Dad who is a Nam vet , knows (specifically) that wonderboy Gore was not supposed to get “a scratch on him” otherwise careers were in the balance (thanks to his racist senator pop). Gore was a REMF (non-military can look it up). The closest Gore got to combat was a paper cut at his typewriter. After 4 months he applied for divinity school. And then the scumbag dropped out of divinity school. Which gave birth to the ultimate scumbag we have to deal with now.

  50. #50
    On August 24th, 2008 at 6:52 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    JT –

    Forgot Clinton’s corkscrew landing story…with Chelsea, Cheryl Crow and Sinbad coming under sniper fire.

  51. #51
    On August 24th, 2008 at 6:55 pm, atheling said:

    On August 24th, 2008 at 6:40 pm, JT said:

    After 4 months he applied for divinity school. And then the scumbag dropped out of divinity school. Which gave birth to the ultimate scumbag we have to deal with now.

    Interesting. I was unaware that Gore went to divinity school. It all makes sense in light of his Messianic complex with Global Warming. He is leading a religion.

  52. #52
    On August 24th, 2008 at 7:19 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    On August 24th, 2008 at 6:52 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    Forgot Clinton’s corkscrew landing story

    I wish I were the pilot. I would have done wing-overs, barrel rolls, loops and spiraled down in a tight spiral just to see if I could get them all to puke. Shrill would have fired me. Chelsea would have sent her BBF to yell at me. Crow would have tried to clean the mess with one square of toilet paper. Sinbad would have just laughed his head off and thanked me for the new material.

  53. #53
    On August 24th, 2008 at 7:20 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    BFF - UGH. Her BFF would have just sent me a nanty text anyhow.

  54. #54
    On August 24th, 2008 at 7:51 pm, Bruce said:

    Haven’t seen any comments about the link I left to Dissident Frogman’s “Shooty-NoShooty-Savvy?” video.

    Seriously, folks - it’s pure genius and a laugh riot. Ya’ll just have to watch it.

  55. #55
    On August 24th, 2008 at 7:53 pm, Bruce said:

    Hmmm… link no show?

    Well - it’s post #17.

    http://www.thedissidentfrogman.com/blog/

  56. #56
    On August 24th, 2008 at 8:33 pm, av8tr said:

    MNUSMCDavid said:
    I was shot at… and have the scars and rebuilt calf muscle in my leg to prove it… do Joe Plugs and Hillary? I am not ashamed to challenge people that way.

    Semper Fi, Devil Dog. Semper Fi.

  57. #57
    On August 24th, 2008 at 8:38 pm, jsmiddleton4 said:

    There is more to this biden choice than has been released. I’m telling you it feels funny. The convention will be interesting. We’re not the only ones who are aware of Biden’s issues. I continue to have the feeling that he is the only one who was willing to say “yes”. No proof yet. Something just feels fishy.

  58. #58
    On August 24th, 2008 at 9:12 pm, gunslingerpatriot said:

    JT I can understand your hostility to the “Rear Echelon Mother F****rs” and it reminds me of some of the people I served with in the Navy who conviently forgot to take their BCP’s during workups and left with a temporary disability (aka pregnancy)-about 50% of our female compliment on each of the deployments I made.

    Sadly they gave all of the females a bad name because the guys wondered who’s next and which shift they were going to get shafted too.

  59. #59
    On August 24th, 2008 at 9:22 pm, travlinman said:

    It has to do with laws of physics. When you have no central belief system, based on morality and integrity to guide you, you become liquid. If you do not have a solid core (integrity, moral fiber, etc.), you are liquid and will conform to the shape of the vessel you find yourself in. Exactly the kind of people we do not need leading our country.

  60. #60
    On August 24th, 2008 at 9:55 pm, Papa Louie said:

    Future Biden quote: “You know, I once had a shot at being Vice President. Well, a more accurate comment would be: I was once near someone who had a shot at becoming Vice President.”

  61. #61
    On August 24th, 2008 at 10:47 pm, Flyoverman said:

    Unless it is a convention center Obama ans Biden will never campaign together indoors. Their egos are both so large their heads won’t fit in the same room.

  62. #62
    On August 24th, 2008 at 10:57 pm, babiesgrandma said:

    On August 24th, 2008 at 2:10 pm, MNUSMCDavid said:

    babiesgrandma

    I, too, am a Nam vet . Please relay a heart felt ” Welcome Home” to your husband for me.

    Thank you. I didn’t know him then, but I was in the military during that time too (served in the U.S. Navy in Norfolk, VA). I knew too many guys who were off to the war not knowing if they would return.

    Then you have the lame-o guys who will tell you what you should be feeling about war or not. It’s not pretty (war), but it’s often necessary for peace.

  63. #63
    On August 24th, 2008 at 11:42 pm, atheling said:

    “War is not the best way of settling differences; it is the only way of preventing their being settled for you.” - GK Chesterton

  64. #64
    On August 25th, 2008 at 12:19 am, drfredc said:

    The more I see these two together, it seems like Obama picked Masser Biden because Obama knows he isn’t ready to lead, he needs someone with experience to hold his hand first.

  65. #65
    On August 25th, 2008 at 1:23 am, atheling said:

    Obama is getting a pummeling despite the media’s coverups and bias.

    When you’re getting your butt kicked, you get an attack dog.

  66. #66
    On August 25th, 2008 at 2:08 am, leepro said:

    Can we call him poopy-pants yet?

    :twisted:

  67. #67
    On August 25th, 2008 at 4:31 am, AlohaGuy said:

    I was at Pearl Harbor - 30 years later - but I think that makes me both a WWII vet and a War Historian. In a Presidential candidate sort of way.

  68. #68
    On August 25th, 2008 at 5:37 am, graysonret said:

    Biden must be the butt of some great jokes, among the troops in Iraq. “I was near where a shot landed.” At least he brought a laugh to a few weary soldiers.

  69. #69
    On August 25th, 2008 at 8:56 am, Jimmie said:

    Come on guys and gals Biden is one of the Greatest heroes the liberals have, and as such it is quite remarkable that he actually put him self in a position that “shots” might be taken within several miles of where he might be. We can snicker among ourselves, but let us allow them their heroes such as they are…that is ALL they have got. Everyone pretty much knows that

  70. #70
    On August 25th, 2008 at 9:36 am, mytake said:

    biden probably was closer to gunfire in d.c. than in iraq. same for the rest of the democrats. and that is because of their no-gun policy in our capital. these people are off their nuts and pelosi is still a twit… since the last time i took time to post.

  71. #71
    On August 25th, 2008 at 10:01 am, Speakup said:

    That pic of Hill in the tank just cracks me up.

    Hmmm SNOBAMADEN? Sounds like a wine label.

  72. #72
    On August 25th, 2008 at 10:11 am, BrianNY said:

    The Chicago Sun Times is detailing that Obama and Biden have more in common than formerly known:

    Biden has described himself as a 30-year friend of a key figure in the Rezko trial who’s pleaded guilty to a federal extortion charge in Chicago and is awaiting sentencing.

  73. #73
    On August 25th, 2008 at 10:28 am, JT said:

    On August 24th, 2008 at 9:12 pm, gunslingerpatriot said:

    JT I can understand your hostility to the “Rear Echelon Mother F****rs” and it reminds me of some of the people I served with in the Navy who conviently forgot to take their BCP’s during workups and left with a temporary disability (aka pregnancy)-about 50% of our female compliment on each of the deployments I made.

    Sadly they gave all of the females a bad name because the guys wondered who’s next and which shift they were going to get shafted too.

    REMF is always reserved for the jerks. Many behind the scenes personnel are stand up people. Gore has all the qualities of a REMF.

  74. #74
    On August 25th, 2008 at 11:42 am, gunslingerpatriot said:

    JT so if I google REMF; Will we see Goremessiah’s face as the example of what an REMF looks like?

    OT-Give ‘em Hell MM at the DNC in Denver!

    GSP

  75. #75
    On August 25th, 2008 at 12:38 pm, NJ-Aviator said:

    Biden just comes across like an arrogant fool.

    The more he talks, the worse he make it for himself.

    Not that I have a problem with that. :)

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