Petraeus, Gates caught joking about Libya (Video Vanish)

Petraeus, Gates caught joking about Libya (Video Vanish)

www.salon.com

PETRAEUS: "Welcome back, sir, flying a little bigger plane than normal ... You gonna launch some attacks on Libya or something?"

GATES:"Yeah [laughter]. Exactly."

(visit the link for the full news article)

Moments after this story broke, all video seems to be gone. Hopefully it will resurface and go viral. It is always interesting to see video or stories "disappeared". It makes you wonder how much happens that we never hear about. The ability to control what information people are exposed to is more power than any elected official has.

www.salon.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Pfft. You call that a joke? No setup, horrible punchline, seriously these guys need to get some new writers.

Try this one:

PETRAEUS: "Welcome back, sir, flying a little bigger plane than normal ... You gonna launch some attacks on Libya or something?"

GATES:"Nope. Michelle just finished chowing down on some short-ribs and this is the only thing that could get her fat *** off the runway."

Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week...

reply to post by Blackmarketeer

Well done, Blackmarketeer. Help yourself to a star.

What I would like explained to me is why this is seen as significant? Is the complaint that they are making light of something? I've heard jokes in sick rooms frequently. People joke in times of stress. Does anyone think that Gates is giving away a secret?
I'm sorry I'm so blind, but this seems like a "So what?" to me.

reply to post by RedPill

Moments after this story broke, all video seems to be gone. Hopefully it will resurface and go viral. It is always interesting to see video or stories "disappeared"

I've personally had things I've done or trying to promote literally buried on websites, disappeared from others. Controversial comments too. It's not a free internet no matter how much we think it so, just like we're not a free people.

Originally posted by Blackmarketeer
Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week...

lmao

well if u were at the WH Dinner Party
and said that,

u would have been escorted off the premises
by some very large dudes wearing black who
had some very big guns under their coats.

Maybe your Marquee should have stated:

One Night Only !!!

reply to post by RedPill


I think they are joking amongst friends at their level to diffuse the tension.
This will be costly for The United States of America to Referee.
With the potential for casualties on both sides. Everyone mocks America lately, until ,,their blood is
in the streets. It is then that diplomats request intervention.

The United States of America would wish Libya internal resolution and peaceful interchange.
But unfortunately, someone(or some group) has decided that The United States of Americas Military
is the Worldwide Roman Centurions of the 21st Century.Considering capability, it is true. However,
this mentality is not supported by the main populous of American Citizens.
When the rebels of Libya agree to the terms, yes unfortunately there are terms, you can rest assured that the might of The United States of America
will be behind you. It is a "Bittersweet Symphony", but it is ,shall we say conducive to our mutual future.

Would it not be better for "neighbors" to settle their disagreements ? If unattainable, would it not be more
fair , equal, and just for many Nations to bear the burden(in many ways) of enforcement?
What Say You? S&F

The video at your original link is working for me.

I think Patreus was ribbing him because all Gates has been doing is mouthpiecing to Congress and the press how they can't do a no fly zone. The US got the capabillity to take out any air defense system in the world but listening to him lately you'd think they couldn't control a flock of geese.

reply to post by RedPill


To me this is no different than humor form Law Enforcement officals. When you are part of a unique portion of siciety, the normal coping mechanisms are not normally effective. For instance when dealing with a crime scene where there is a body, the comments we make, if heard by others would be disturbing and would appear to be insensitive and uncaring.

Especially to people who only see a few bodies in their lifetime, and not a few every month.

Its called blowing off steam and nothing more. Everyone does this...

reply to post by Wildmanimal

I think they are joking amongst friends at their level to diffuse the tension.
This will be costly for The United States of America to Referee.
With the potential for casualties on both sides. Everyone mocks America lately, until ,,their blood is
in the streets. It is then that diplomats request intervention.

Exactly right. They should be joking about Libya. It is their job, they live these conflicts day in and day out for their entire careers. This is just another day at the office for these guys, they deserve a little comic relief every now and then.

Here's a shocker, we joke at my job too! We are dealing with peoples lives, and their careers, and their livelihoods, and we are sometimes perusing documents of carnage and death and yet we can still make light of it from time to time. If that were not the case, we would all go insane and burn out every 6 months.

Like it or not, Petraeus is just another guy at work, and I'm sure he would rather be somewhere else enjoying his family and some beers, but instead he is creating 25 contingency plans for 25 different uprisings that may or may not request our help and may or may not get it whether they ask or not! And that is just his normal Monday!

Look, regardless of ones attitude toward the subject matter of the joke, be it Libya, or the sexual habits of a priest, or a joke about a hooker (or some convoluted hybrid of all three) the real issue I have with this behaviour is one of decorum.
When a person attains high office, wether in the military , or political arm of government, they have a duty to comport themselves in a decorus, respectful and thoroughly business like manner when engaged in the pursuits of that office. It is fundamentaly inappropriate for the US Secretary Of Defense, to be anything other than serious, professional, and stern. He is not employed by the US to make jokes, or to look like he is having a good time after all, in fact his job is one of the most serious in terms of the importance of its being handled correctly. If the blithering windbag cannot keep a straight face in front of a camera, then I do not hold much hope for his exploits.
The same could be said of Petraeus. Every choice he makes in his official capacity can drasticaly effect the lives of the men under his command, and the lives of civilians in the locality in which his troops operate. Therefore some seriousness and sincerity wouldnt be amiss. But hell, screw that, lets have a joke with my boss in front of the cameras? Lets be smiley and happy and carefree, while our men die, while civilians lives are turned upside down by airstrikes and predator drones. Lets just have a great time, while everyone else sucks dirt and eats lead.... that will go down REAL well with everyone , for sure.
Im not saying that these folks should not HAVE a good time. I think the pressure of doing what they do, making the choices they do, and the effects they have to weigh up, means that they deserve a good time... ON HOLIDAY! When outside your office, in veiw of the public to ANY degree, you stick your work face on, and you keep it there until you are in privacy. In your office you pull as many wacky faces, practical jokes, and fast ones as you like, but when out , doing the work you are payed for, you keep that stern , focused face on, and you never let it slip.

reply to post by dainoyfb


that what i said, i expected to see "video has been pulled at user's request".
the title is kinda misleading.

i think the reason why the U.S. hasn't gone into lybia is, we're broke and can't afford to.
and we can't find any body to loan us any more more,

reply to post by TrueBrit


no body likes some body that walks around with a stick up their bum as you brits call it.
every body has to relief a little tension every now and then. you can bet your sweet bum,
when its time to get down to business, they are all business.

reply to post by hounddoghowlie


Theres a massive difference between having a stick up ones rectum, and being completely incapable of presenting a business like attitude to the public. I wouldnt put up with that kind of crap from a car salesman, let alone a secretary of defense or a general!

reply to post by TrueBrit


But this wasn't "to the public" this was between two colleagues. Yes, nobody would put up with this if it were in a speech or a classroom, but if it occurs in their own office, then it is fine.

reply to post by getreadyalready


This wasnt private at all. They were outdoors, and infront of a camera. Do these suckers think lip reading by video is not possible or something ? Again I say, if you must attain office and behave like a jackass, do it INSIDE your private offices, where you are the one who decides what is being recorded and where from.
When outdoors you be idealisticaly perfect for the job, or go the hell home!

reply to post by TrueBrit


and if you notice, gates just said one word and dropped it right there.
not like they just went on and on. you can bet if petraeus knew there was a hot mike listening.
nothing like that would have been said.
it was not meant to be a press event. just a subordinate greeting a superior, in a fashion that is
common to their profession. ie use of terms and saying them in jest.

reply to post by TrueBrit


It was still a private exchange between colleagues not intended for public ears. It was also a greeting. It would be pretty lame to say, "Sir, I have a sarcastic greeting for you, but I will wait until we are behind closed doors." Maybe if it were a racist or sexist joke it could wait a few minutes, but this was just a little bit of sarcasm, nobody was harmed, and nobody should be offended.

reply to post by getreadyalready


I don't know. Imagine yourself under the circumstances that the average citizen in Lybia is under right now. Uprisings, government suppression and riots going on. There is talk of a world super power coming into your country to intervene. You may consider it hopeful or you may not like the idea at all. Either way you know that there is talk about it.

You look to the news for any information that it may contain and you see that Petraeus and Gates are joking about bombing your country.

Don't get me wrong, I don't believe that their lives should be devoid of humor but when considering such a serious matter, is it really to be made into a joke?

Think of yourself being held hostage in a small dark room. You are tied to a chair and cannot escape. Your captors have been in and out at different times telling you about the seriousness of your situation as if you needed to be reminded.

Then you hear them outside talking to one another. "Man that is some pair of cleats you are wearing, you gonna kick him to death or something?" One of them says jokingly as they both burst into laughter.