Kiwi303, you'll like this one!

For those that don't know him, Major General Peter Cosgrove is an 'Australian treasure!'


General Cosgrove was interviewed on the radio recently. You'll love his reply to the lady who interviewed him concerning guns and children. Regardless of how you feel about gun laws you gotta love this! This is one of the best comeback lines of all time. It is a portion of an ABC interview between a female broadcaster and General Cosgrove who was about to sponsor a Boy Scout Troop visiting his military headquarters.

FEMALE INTERVIEWER:So, General Cosgrove, what things are you going to teach these young boys when they visit your base?GENERAL COSGROVE:We're going to teach them climbing, canoeing, archery and shooting.

FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Shooting! That's a bit irresponsible, isn't it?GENERAL COSGROVE:I don't see why, they'll be properly supervised on the rifle range.

FEMALE INTERVIEWER:Don't you admit that this is a terribly dangerous activity to be teaching children?GENERAL COSGROVE:I don't see how. We will be teaching them proper rifle discipline before they even touch a firearm.

FEMALE INTERVIEWER:But you're equipping them to become violent killers.GENERAL COSGROVE:Well, Ma'am, you're equipped to be a prostitute, but you're not one, are you?

The radio went silent and the interview ended

It's always good

Gen Cosgrove was the aussie general who was runnign things in East Timor during the independance transitions, generally keeping the two sides (timorese and indonesians) from trying to eliminate each other.

That joke however goes back to storming norman of Gulf War fame, a Vietnam general, before him it was attributed to Gen MacArthur, of Korean and WW II.

As far as can be found, it cropped up in the late 60's, back when hippies, anti-gun loonies, and Womans Lib were most active.

Ah well, incorrectly attributed (as tends to happen to these things) but still a goodie! []

Yes, still more than a touch of truth and I guess that is why it stands the test of time.