Petraeus, Gates caught joking about Libya

"You gonna launch some attacks on Libya or something?"

Published March 7, 2011 11:12PM (EST)

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, right, talks with Gen. David Petreaus upon his arrival in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday March 7, 2011.  (AP Photo/Defense Department/Cherie Cullen)  (AP)
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, right, talks with Gen. David Petreaus upon his arrival in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Defense Department/Cherie Cullen) (AP)

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, shared what was meant to be a private joke about Libya when the two met on the tarmac in Kabul today. But the exchange was caught on an open microphone and didn't remain private for long.

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

GATES:"Yeah [laughter]. Exactly."

 


By Peter Finocchiaro

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