U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said Wednesday anti-U.S. attacks ahead of the elections were not targeted at any specific candidate. Under intense questioning by Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y., on comments he made last month in Poland, Armitage said he had “carelessly” answered questions concerning whether Iraqi insurgents were trying to adversely affect President Bush’s chances in the Nov. 2 election. “There is evidence that they’re trying to disrupt our elections … (but) not in favor of either” candidate, he told the House International Relations Committee Tuesday. In Warsaw on Sept. 17, Armitage had said: “They are trying to influence the election against President Bush.” The remarks in Poland were criticized by Democrats who said Republicans were trying to politicize the violence in Iraq. © Copyright 2004 by United Press International

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