The Infamous Cosgrove Interview

Major General Peter Cosgrove, an Australian, was interviewed on the radio recently (or so the story goes).

A female interviewer from ABC was asking him about his headquarters' sponsorship of a visit by a local Boy Scout Troop and threw him a spin on the old "have-you-stopped-beating-your-spouse" question.

Here's how he handled it:

INTERVIEWER: So, General Cosgrove, what things are you going to teach these young boys when they visit your base?

COSGROVE: We're going to teach them climbing, canoeing, archery and shooting.

INTERVIEWER: Shooting! That's a bit irresponsible, isn't it?

COSGROVE: I don't see why, they'll be properly supervised on the rifle range.

INTERVIEWER: Don't you admit that this is a terribly dangerous activity to be teaching children?

COSGROVE: I don't see how. We will be teaching them proper rifle discipline before they even touch a firearm.

INTERVIEWER: But you're equipping them to become violent killers.

COSGROVE: Well, Ma'am, you're equipped to be a prostitute, but you're not one, are you?

The station then went silent for 46 seconds. When it came back on the air, this interview was over.