My guess is Billy boy is simply kissing a$$ to drum up some business.
No doubt that was in part his intent.
I have re-read this, and I wonder if either AFP is shading this story, or if Mr. Gates might not have been a bit tipsy, because his quotes are really over the top. If President Bush were to make the same remarks, I believe the New York Times would probably fulminate until at least 2008 about them.