A: Yes, they're angry. They'll cool off. One phone call, Bush to Ottawa, was all that took. We'll just have to leave it that a point has been registered. Are you asking me to defend what was done, step by step? I can't do that. In situations like this, there isn't clear cockpit control. The White House is sore at the Pentagon guy who let it out, but what's to be done about that, fire Rumsfeld? The U.S. can sort of back away -- a series of equivocations. Like, Who is a prime bidder? Who is a subcontractor? Is there a World Trade Organization problem here? It'll blow away.
Q: It's not going to blow away for Bush at the next debate of the Democratic presidential candidates. They'll team up on the theme of the administration's incompetence. And they'll go on about economic opportunism, commercialism, favoritism. Is it true Halliburton is getting an extra buck for every gallon of gas it ships over?
A: Halliburton is, for the Democrats, the gorilla, the monster, the archetype of GOP favoritism/greed/exploitation.
Q: What's to be done about that?
A: If this gets out, I'll know you've betrayed me.
Q: If what gets out?
A: My secret remedy for the Democrats. ... They should buy Halliburton. Why not? Ask George Soros to buy it. Figure $10 billion, in round numbers.
Q: You must be kidding.
A: Just pretend you never thought of it.