Olbermann challenges Rice to prove devotion to country, job and Iraq mission David Edwards and Ron Brynaert

Published: Thursday April 17, 2008



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Print This Email This MSNBC's Keith Olbermann challenged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to prove her devotion to country, job and mission on his Countdown show Wednesday night. Taking aim at the Pentagon's stop-loss policy which involuntarily extends the active duty status for its troops, Olbermann called it "de facto draft-gate." "There is no draft, no force service, right?" Olbermann continued. "Tell that to the kids who are stop-loss into their third, fourth, fifth tours in Iraq." Olbermann added, "Tell that now again to the State Department for the second consecutive year, the State is warning its diplomats that there are about 300 openings in Iraq and apparently the number of volunteers is down to roughly zero." "They may be forced to go there or quit," the MSNBC host noted. "Secretary of State Rice said that those staffers who have protested the involuntary assignments are offensive to her and cast a very bad light on the Foreign Service." Olbermann then essentially challenged Rice to put her body where her mouth is. "Well, heres the suggestion, Madam Secretary, your term is expiring in no more than nine months and four days, why dont you show your devotion to the country and that department youve headed and show those whove made those offensive remarks what youre made of," Olbermann stated. "Why dont you ask the next administration to let you continue serve at State at one of those great jobs in Iraq." This video is from MSNBC's Countdown, broadcast April 16, 2008. FULL TRANSCRIPT AT MSNBC'S WEBSITE