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.
