When asked today if the sudden resignation of Adm. William J. Fallon might mean the U.S. is one step closer to its inevitable invasion of Iran, Defense Secretary Robert Gates responded that the notion was "to quote myself, 'ridiculous.'"

Well, for crying out loud. Now you're not even trying, Mr. Secretary. You're quoting YOURSELF. (Maybe what with the right arm in a sling and out of commission, he needs something else to do to himself.)

It's not even a good quote. It's not a quote at all. It's a word that everybody uses all the time. Gates could have just as easily said that he was quoting Audrey Rapoport when she was talking about the appalling lack of oyster crackers at the Red Lobster nowadays.

And when did he use this clever wordsmithness that he's already quoting himself? Three minutes ago?

Though I guess when your head is that far up your ass, quoting yourself just seems like...well, if I may quote Secretary Gates himself when speaking of Adm. Fallon's decision: "the right thing to do." Which, by the way, Gates failed to attribute to Wilford Brimley.