Clinton 'Misspoke' About Dodging Bosnia Sniper

Dem backtracks as Obama camp pounces

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 25, 2008 4:47 AM CDT

(Newser) – Hillary Clinton had to dodge sniper fire when she landed at the start of a goodwill tour of Bosnia in 1996—at least that’s what the senator said last week. But after an archive CBS news video showed the then-first lady smiling and waving without a single bullet whizzing by, her campaign conceded that she “misspoke.” One aide admitted the situation “was not quite as dramatic" as Clinton put it.

"I remember landing under sniper fire," Clinton initially recalled. "There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony, but instead we just ran with our heads down." Barack Obama's camp has pounced on the inconsistencies. The story “joins a growing list of instances in which Senator Clinton has exaggerated her role in foreign and domestic policymaking," said a spokesman for Obama.

[Images (3)]

[Videos (2)]

The Clinton camp says the senator "misspoke" when she said she landed under sniper fire in Bosnia in 1996. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Hillary Clinton said she faced sniper gunfire during a 1996 visit to Bosnia. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Hillary Clinton. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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The 1996 CBS News Report and Clinton's Response to It (vericool88 (YouTube))

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Clinton 'Misspoke' About Dodging Bosnia Sniper