White House: Kerry did not gaffe

Politico ^

[Sub-Driver]

White House: Kerry did not gaffe

By REID J. EPSTEIN | 9/9/13 2:06 PM EDT

White House press secretary Jay Carney said Secretary of State John Kerry’s assertion that U.S.-led airstrikes on Syria would be “unbelievably small” was only in context to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I think that Secretary Kerry clearly was referring to that in the context of what the United States and the American people have experienced over the past 10, 12 years, which includes large scale, long-term … open-ended military engagement with boots on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq,” Carney said during Monday’s White House press briefing. “That is the contrast that Secretary Kerry was making.”

Carney said Kerry did not gaffe.

“I don’t think that the phrasing reflects some error, it’s a fact by comparison,” Carney said. “This is certainly much more limited and a smaller duration and size.”

Kerry’s size comment on Monday came in the context of his description of how the U.S. would launch an attack against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

“What we have to do is make clear to people that this is – we’re not talking about war,” Kerry said. “We’re not going to war. We will not have people at risk in that way. We will be able to hold Bashar Assad accountable without engaging in troops on the ground or any other prolonged kind of effort in a very limited, very targeted, very short-term effort that degrades his capacity to deliver chemical weapons without assuming responsibility for Syria’s civil war. That is exactly what we’re talking about doing – unbelievably small, limited kind of effort.”

[Sub-Driver]

Then why are we discussing this anyway?

Do we need a translator?

[Jeff Chandler]

Actually, it was ‘The World’ that said that U.S.-led airstrikes on Syria would be “unbelievably small”.

[Nervous Tick]

Hey Jay, I’m not focusing on the word “small”, as are you.

I’m focusing on the word “unbelievable”. As in, “John Kerry and Jay Carney are unbelievable”.

[Mike Darancette]

Hillary backs Putin.

[Alex Murphy]

White House press secretary Jay Carney said Secretary of State John Kerry’s assertion that U.S.-led airstrikes on Syria would be “unbelievably small” was only in context to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Unbelievably small - as small as a grain of rice.

[mmichaels1970]

“unbelievably small” was only in context to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Even if we assume this is correct, don't you think statements from the Secretary and State and President concerning the potential launch of missiles into a sovereign nation should be "unbelievably clear" and not need further clarifications and interpretations?

These people are idiots. Their decisions have, and will kill people, and they think it's a freaking game?

[Ann Archy]

HAHAHAHAHA....Carney is a BAD Joke of a man.

WTF do you call Bombing another country??? They REALLY think we are all so STUPID like THEIR VOTERS!!

[Triple]

Yes - These attacks will just about the same size as Pearl Harbor...

[clintonh8r]

Everything about John Frenchman Kerry is small except his ego and his wife’s financial statement.

[353FMG]

Who knows that the attack will perhaps only be on the scale of the raid on the Koresh compound at Waco, TX.

[South40]

White House: Kerry did not gaffe

Because that is crazy Joe Biden's job.

[Uncle Miltie]

This is The Onion.

Or John Semmens.

‘Cause no real Whitehouse could issue such a lame statement.

Really.

[Col Frank Slade]

Carney- Kerry gaffe unbelievably small ....

[Maceman]

He didn't gaffe. It's just that his talking points weren't sufficiently seared -- seared -- into his memory. Coulda happened to anybody.

[Uncle Miltie]

I think I see: "Checkmate - Vlad." on there.

[cld51860]

I’m focusing on the word “unbelievable”. As in, “John Kerry and Jay Carney are unbelievable”.

LOL!! ...I’m sorry. I just found that funny.

[tumblindice]

Kerr-ee, you soo tee tee. Me not hawney. We go boom boom ricky tick.

[RedMDer]

Kerry: Unbelievably small strike.

[justlurking]

And Clinton did not have sex with that woman.