White House Says bin Laden Capture Is “Success That Hasn’t Occurred Yet”

May we respectfully use the words “beyond belief”?

TPM Muckraker reports that a White House spokesperson has effectively declared Osama bin Laden’s capture a “success” — even though he has not been captured yet.

Here’s the quote they used, citing CNN’s White House correspondent Ed Henry questioning Frances Fragos Townsend:

HENRY: You know, going back to September 2001, the president said, dead or alive, we’re going to get him. Still don’t have him. I know you are saying there’s successes on the war on terror, and there have been. That’s a failure.

TOWNSEND: Well, I’m not sure — it’s a success that hasn’t occurred yet. I don’t know that I view that as a failure.

Aside from how this underlines the fact that this White House that will never, ever EVER really admit that it has not succeeded in a highly touted goal, this pushes evaluations into a new realm.

For instance:

• To Dennis Kucinich: Your campaign for President is a success that hasn’t occurred yet.

• To Bob Dole: Throw out the Viagra. The evenings are successes that…(NEVER MIND…)
• To college students flunking courses: You’re a Dean’s List success that hasn’t occurred yet.
• To President George W. Bush: Your presidency is a success that hasn’t occurred yet.