small inconsistencies? So what? You lose

Mr. M, from the DRC, was denied asylum. The Asylum Officer noted that:
1. How did you find out about the explosion?
Mr. M stated he found out, when he received a fax from his wife.
However, the wife wrote a letter, which said, "I told you about the explosion in a phone call."
Later, Mr. M tried to explain, saying that he did receive a fax from his wife, and that also he talked to wife on the phone; maybe he found out from the fax and also the phone.

2. Mr. M wrote in his application that he attended meetings at a government building.
However, in answer to oral questions, he said he attended meetings at a library, at a home, at a restaurant, and at a university. The Asylum Officer asked him "Why didn't you tell me you attended meetings at a government building?"
Mr. M said he forgot.

3. Mr. M wrote in his declaration that he made several, international, conference phone calls.
However, in answer to oral questions, he said he made just one international conference phone call, and three local conference calls.

[do you think Mr. M made only very small mistakes? Maybe. However, the Asylum Officer wants you to be consistent. Can you repeat what you said in your application, or not? If your brain is small, and you cannot remember very much, then make your application short.]

Also, Mr. M wrote in his application that he "condemned the vicious atrocities committed by the crazy rebels."
Mr. James wrote a letter, with that very same sentence in it.
Ms. Marsha wrote a ltter, with that very same sentence in it.
This irritated the Asylum Officer, who said, "this is evidence of fraud."