Administration officials denied today that Vice President Cheney was in Iraq. "As far as we know, he isn't in Baghdad," said spokesmen for the State Department, the Vice President's office, and the White House in a chorus.
Is he in Basra?
"As far as we know, he isn't in Basra."
Is he in Kirkuk?
"As far as we know, he isn't in Kirkuk."
Is he in Tal Afar?"
"As far as we know, he isn't in Baghdad."
Where is he?
"In fact, we don't know where the Vice President is at the moment. All he will say is that he is in an undisclosed location."
Does that mean the Vice President is hiding?
"We wouldn't put it that way. He told the President to count backward from one thousand, and there has been some dispute about the accuracy of the countdown. Technically, we can't begin looking for him until the count has been verified. And it would not be accurate to say that he is hiding until we can start searching."
Is it fair to say that the Vice President is Thelma and Louising it?
"You would have to ask Secretary Rumsfeld that."
Where is Secretary Rumsfeld?
"He's squarely behind the troops."
So, he's in hiding?
"That would be your characterization. We prefer to think of it as blending in."
