Robert M. Gates

dodSpeech: May 2010

“When I was Director of Central Intelligence in the 1980s, I was briefed on a plan to launch balloons into Libya dropping leaflets telling the people to overthrow the government. I told them to make sure the leaflets specifically said that it was Qaddafi who should be overthrown. I could imagine strong westerly winds carrying balloons with a generic overthrow your government right across Libya and into Egypt. I thought President Mubarak would not be pleased.”

http://www.defense.gov/speeches/speech.aspx?speechid=1474

Posted in:
  1. Richard Aaron Wright

    … or perhaps the balloons might’ve landed in Israel?

    1. David

      or Saudi Arabia? someone should kickstart’er a project to release thousands of balloons with random messages of peace and goodwill on them.

  2. David Hardin

    I always wondered what inspired that song. I guess the Germans were in on it too. They had the better lyrics.

    1. David

      …after hurricane katrina, one person donated 35 grand to a radio benefit and requested 99 luftballons be played on repeat.

      1. David Hardin

        …and let me guess. Another person donated 70 to make them stop.

        1. David

          maybe? … they’ll need more than a peace balloon project to stop Gaddafi and his amazonian virgin guards.

  3. Gary Ward

    Gates . . . I want to party with that dude. That opening joke sounded like it came from the CIA Joke Manual.