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Powell, Armitage report contradicted
Washington, Aug 05: The US State Department and White House today contradicted a media report that Secretary of State Colin Powell and his deputy Richard Armitage will not be available for service in a second Bush term.
Washington, Aug 05: The US State Department and White House today contradicted a media report that Secretary of State Colin Powell and his deputy Richard Armitage will not
be available for service in a second Bush term.
Press secretary Scott Mclellan dismissed the 'The
Washington Post' report as "speculation and gossip running
full speed in Washington" with Congress recessing and
President George W Bush leaving for his ranch.
"Look, Powell and Armitage are outstanding members of the President's team and they are highly valued members of the President's term, and they are doing an outstanding job.
"The State Department has already issued a statement in which they said that the purported conversation between Dr (Condoleezza) Rice (National Security Adviser) and Deputy Secretary Armitage (stating that he and Powell will not be available for a second Bush term) did not take place," McClellan said. Asked whether Bush would like them to be around for a second term, McClellan said, "Well, thank you for making sure that there is a second term."
Report about their "unwillingness" to serve in a second term, he said, is part of the gossip and speculation that characterise the month of August in Washington. "But there is no basis for that story," he added.
Bureau Report
"Look, Powell and Armitage are outstanding members of the President's team and they are highly valued members of the President's term, and they are doing an outstanding job.
"The State Department has already issued a statement in which they said that the purported conversation between Dr (Condoleezza) Rice (National Security Adviser) and Deputy Secretary Armitage (stating that he and Powell will not be available for a second Bush term) did not take place," McClellan said. Asked whether Bush would like them to be around for a second term, McClellan said, "Well, thank you for making sure that there is a second term."
Report about their "unwillingness" to serve in a second term, he said, is part of the gossip and speculation that characterise the month of August in Washington. "But there is no basis for that story," he added.
Bureau Report