that's exactly what i mean! His brain had to be stuck in nuetral for him to say that!!! good grief, all he did was give the jackasses talking points for a week!
It was definitely one of the worst faux pas I've heard in a long time. One reporter asked Tony if Gates's remark would be demoralizing to the troops. (Duh.) Tony was very deft but oh, what a stinkpile. Then again, W made a few verbal gaffes before he learned to deal more effectively with the national media, so I'm hoping Gates will come up to speed really fast on this one.
There are very few wars that ever get one without some setbacks. It's not news. It's not even that disheartening -- if one looks at the larger picture. But that remark did not help anything.
That was the sound-byte they played on British TV which concerned me.