General Petraeus jokes with Robert Gates about attacking Libya

[jakeXT]

Apparently unaware of an open microphone, Gen Petraeus greeted Mr Gates at Kabul airport joking: “Welcome back, sir, flying a little bigger plane than normal ... you gonna launch some attacks on Libya or something?”

The US Defence Secretary responded to the comment by laughing and replied, “yeah, exactly”.

Gates, who arrived on Monday for a two-day trip, visited Camp Leatherneck in Helmand after issuing a public apology over a Nato air strike last week that targeted insurgents but killed nine young boys who were collecting firewood in eastern Afghanistan.

"This breaks our heart," Mr Gates told a news conference on Monday at the presidential palace in Kabul, as US-backed President Hamid Karzai looked on.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8367853/General-Petraeus-jokes-with-Robert-Gates-about-attacking-Libya.html

[driver8]

1. I cannot describe the knot I have in my stomach right now.

When will this madness of never ending war come to an end??

This makes me sick.

[liberal N proud]

2. They think this is a giant game

The people of the world, us included, are nothing more than pawns expendable at their whim.

They make me :puke:

[Paper Roses]

3. Very funny General. We really need another war.

Have you all not caused enough trouble in the middle East? The people of Libya do not want us....neither do the people in Iraq ir Afghanistan.

Bring the troops home and use them to help rebuild the infrastructure of this country. Billion for everyone else, nothing for our falling apart roads. Let alone the rest of the things that need to be addresses at home.

[Angry Dragon]

4. They care nothing about people

in other countries nor this one

[catabryna]

5. I agree with the open mic thing...

when you are in a position of making life and death decisions (and war is certainly one of those times) you need to be mindful of the possibility of your words being repeated. However, at the same time, haven't we all now and again joked about something serious? As human beings, I'm sure that most of can come up with situations in which we have found a moment of levity in an otherwise horrible situation.

Having said that, I'm finding it difficult to get all worked up over this. Your mileage may vary.

[jaxx]

6. I agree, it's not an earth shaking moment.

In times of stress people come out with off the wall stuff all the time, it breaks the ice. There is nothing wrong with the give and take.

[jakeXT]

7. Good old Ronald Reagan comes to mind

At the height of the Cold War in 1984 U.S. President Ronald Reagan was about to appear on a radio interview and, as a soundcheck, said "My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes."<12>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microphone_gaffe

[speltwon]

10. It's called black humor. A movie called M*A*S*H brings this home

People in all sorts of professions do this. Cops, Nurses, Firefighters, EMT's, Soldiers, etc. are famous for this. I think a major figure like this should exercise a little more due diligence in front of a mic, though.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. "This breaks our hearts..". Says one of the perpetrators of the policy that killed the kids.

[joshcryer]

9. He takes orders from Sec. of Defense*, he was obviously making a quip.

"OH HEY MORE WARS FOR YOU TO SEND US TO HEY?!"

*not *technically*, the orders are from the President, but the Sec. of Defense relays those orders and has a lot of power by himself.