Bush Security Adviser Stephen Hadley Can't Tell The Difference Between Nepal And Tibet

President Bush's National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley appeared on ABC's "This Week" with George Stephanopoulos and repeatedly confused Nepal and Tibet.

Discussing how Bush has "no reason not to go" to this summer's Olympic games in Beijing and how boycotting them would be wrong, Hadley discussed the outcry over Tibet and the US response, only he kept saying Nepal.

"If countries are really concerned about Nepal, we shouldn't have this sort of non-issue of opening ceremonies or not. They should do the hard work of quiet diplomacy to urge the Chinese government -- in their interest -- to take advantage of this opportunity to do something," Hadley said.

He went on, "The way to deal with the issue of Nepal is not by some -- a statement that you're not going to the opening ceremonies and say, therefore, I checked the Nepal box."

And it didn't end there. "What he's doing on Nepal is what we think the international community ought to be doing, which is approaching the Chinese privately through diplomatic channels and sending a very firm message of concern for human rights, a concern for what's happening in Nepal, urging the Chinese government to understand that it is in their interest to reach out to representatives of the Dalai Lama, and to show, while the whole world is watching China, that they are determined to treat their citizens with dignity and respect. There is an opportunity here."

Nepal, which shares a border with Tibet and which is an independent constitutional monarchy, has about 29 million people, is 10% Buddhist and is not the home of the Dalai Lama.

Video of the horrendous gaffe below:

Comments

[partyofone]

Hadley had no clue, and George Stephanopoulos never corrected him, so he didn't know the mistake either.

They both should be ridiculed.

[SaviourMachine]

That's rich Mr. Hadley telling other countries "They should do the hard work of quiet diplomacy.."

[mydogshakespeare]

But WAIT! I thought Al Qaida in Nepal attacked us on 9-11, so the Chinese are right: the Dalai Lama IS a terrorist. So why is Hadley so concerned about their rights all of a sudden?

And why can't he answer a question that is asked clearly and repeatedly?

The competence of Bush and his talking heads is astounding!

[unclesmedley]

We can fight the sherpas over there, or we can fight them over here...

[Anastasia]

This wasn't just a slip of the tongue. Hadley confused Nepal for Tibet, six separate times during the interview. Just as bad, George S. didn't correct him.

[Lugdunum]

Ditto. I was counting and it was six times. And just as bad was George S..........he didn't bat an eyelash let alone try and correct him. A pox on them both!

[rib]

Looking at the clip, it appears Stephanopoulos caught it right away and got Hadley to repeat himself several times, making Hadley look like a complete doofus.

[brick4barack]

Bush defintely has issues with incompetent staff (see the story on current Gonzo's trouble getting a job), and there's no question that Hadley is tainted by his past record with this administration and its policies. However, the Nepal/Tibet thing is more an example of an embarrassing brain fart than evidence of his being geographically challenged. Nepal just held an important election on Thursday - the results are just coming in today - that gave the Maoist rebel party a majority of seats in their congress and will likely put the country on the path to ending its 240-year-old monarchy. It's a big deal to Nepalis, and evidently, it's much on Hadley's mind today (though saying "Nepal" seven times is pretty extreme - he's probably kicking himself now).

[ErnestineBass]

Do you feel safer today than you did eight years ago?

[guntotinganglion]

Mommy, make the bad man go away.

[partyofone]

No no Chelsea, he's your father and we need him, at least until I'm back in the White House.

[Not Blind]

It's becoming more transparent that this administration's advisors are incompetent morons, but were selected for their posts because of their loyalty to the Bu$h doctrine. Mike Brown was head of FEMA, and we saw how incapable he was. Paul Bremmer, in Iraq, lost $18-billion cash, disbanded the Iraqi army and police forces, while widespread looting and civil unrest started (after Saddam was over-thrown). David Patreaus was commander of a military storage facility where nearly 200,000 American weapons were stolen. Gonzalez, and now Mukasey, rather than being attorneys FOR the Constitution, have re-written it so torture and illegal, warrantless surveillance on citizens is taking place, while Habeas Corpus (Due Process), and Rendition programs are in full swing.
Blind loyalty to this administration can get anyone a job for which they're not qualified. Most have not read history, do not know how to distinguish between religious sects, countries, races or ethnicities, but they do now how to skew facts, logic, destroy or withhold evidence, spin and lie. They're also very adept at wasting money, and putting others (Americans, Iraqis, Palestinians, and soon Iranians) into harm's way.
George Stephanopoulos either doesn't know the difference between Nepal and Tibet himself, or he wanted to be polite and soft-peddle Hadley's blunder. I presume it's the latter, as CNN obliged their superiors by dubbing in for his blunders. Imagine how many other speeches, talks or so-called "reports" are also dubbed, edited and "cleaned" before they are aired.

[aristippe]

Noway that 18-billion was lost.

[wolf58]

No child left behind starts at home...

[GotRights]

Nepal, Tibet, Outer Mongolia, Inner Mongolia... what's the difference? He's the national security adviser, he's a busy guy. He doesn't have time to waste on the little details of oil-less countries. He's got wars to start, lies to tell...

[Ono4Hoopono]

It's plain from the people they've chosen for important posts, that these guys don't give a rip about running the country, they've shown from their behavior they are just frontage for what is really going on behind the scenes; letting their pals in the back door to rob us blind and subvert the Constitution so they can get away with it. Counting the days.

Honest republicans, I know you are out there, because some of you are my aunts and uncles and cousins who are good and well-meaning people. Please start paying attention and taking responsibility for what your half-attentive votes in the past have wrought. Vote for the good democrats, or at least true and honest republicans, [not the neocons] this time so we can put this country back together. You have been lied to, but it is your responsibility. Don't hide in shame, as some republicans I know are doing. Join us in making this right.

[Meah]

I heard a Republican speaking on the radio in L.A. He said that he was voting for Obama. He thinks he is a lot like Ronald Reagan. (Don't ask, I don't get it either). Anyway, he said that he knows a lot of Republicans who are voting for Obama, they just will not go public with the info. But he said they email him all of the time and talk with him about it.

[Casanavelaw]

From a Republican that is high praise. Remember, these are people who don't remember enough history to remember Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt or other great Republicans

[GotRights]

Maybe he means the "Great Communicator" thing.

[JohntheElder]

Is it just me, or does this guy look like he is auditioning to be a replacement for the old Howdy Doody dummy. I know Bob ? is dead but I am struck by this guy's likeness to the dummy he used in his act.

[Toonadude]

Any oil in Nepal?
Any oil in Tibet?

Any questions?

[infinity]

There's no oil in Spain or Portugal either, but I'll guess this buffoon might know the difference. Remember, this is the NatSecAdv, a main player in this country's alleged foreign policy and presumably not geopolitically challenged. Sleep tight tonight....

[BethStuart]

Whoever said competence was a requirement for a job in the Bush administration?

[comebackid]

Hey Mr. Fudd, he went thata way!