Gingrich backs down on allegation that 911 terrorists came

through Canada.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1114033810963&call_pageid=968332188854&col=968350060724

' Frank McKenna took on Newt Gingrich yesterday and the new Canadian ambassador won.

' Gingrich, the former Republican House speaker who is testing the waters for a 2008 presidential bid, apologized to Canadians and retracted claims he made on Fox News that some of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists had entered the United States from Canada.

' McKenna released a letter late yesterday, insisting Gingrich retract the statement ? and within an hour he had done just that.

' In the letter, McKenna told Gingrich his comments "perpetuate an urban legend that can take on a life of its own."

' Gingrich spokesman Rick Tyler said the former speaker deeply regrets the error.

' "As the victim of urban legends himself, Speaker Gingrich absolutely retracts the statement," Tyler said.

' Gingrich later released a letter apologizing to McKenna and offering to help Ottawa set the record straight.

' "I now realize that what I said was factually incorrect," he wrote. "Let me say that I deeply regret repeating what had become a widespread inaccuracy about how the 9/11 terrorists entered the United States. '

Well, thats one for the good guys.

Rob