Now Rumsfeld Has Foot in Mouth

US Secretary of Defense awarded for making the most puzzling statement
Britain's public organization Plain English Campaign awarded its annual prize Foot in Mouth to US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. The decision to award the prize was made after Donald Rumsfeld's statement at a press-conference in February 2002: "Reports that say something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know."

John Lister from Plain English Campaign says smilingly about the prize awarded to the US secretary of defense: "We believe he knew what he meant. But we do not know if we know it for sure."
   
The newly elected California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was Rumsfeld's key rival. He drew attention of Plain English Campaign with the following statement: "I think that gay marriage is something that should be between a man and a woman." But the jury found the statement by the US secretary of defense the most puzzling one.

Russia's Ambassador to Ukraine Viktor Chernomyrdin is also known for his inclination for complicated and puzzling statements. However, only statements made in English were considered by the public organization in the framework of the contest. MIGnews with reference to ABC and Interfax provided the information.

MIGnews