McCain,
who occasionally seems to be campaigning for the presidency, said he had “had
it up to here with the Sunnis and Shi’as and all the other tongue-twisting
stupid Arab names that I’ve tried to say for the last five years. Those Arabs
seem to have a different word for everything. I can’t keep it straight and you
can bet the American public can’t keep it straight, either.”
Petraeus
reminded McCain that despite decades of American dominance around the world,
“people in other countries still keep speaking other languages, and that
probably no matter where we invade it’ll be the same problem. Nevertheless,
Senator, ever since I read a biography of Teddy Roosevelt, I’d like to charge
up San Juan Hill.”
McCain
replied that maybe Petraeus could invade Cuba instead.
The
hearing ended when Senator Joseph Lieberman suggested that everyone concerned
simply buy $100 worth of Israel Bonds and then go out for drinks.
