work with the great many national security advisers over the course of his career, in sync its misestimation at this point jones is up there with the pesty is work with. >> is it a little unusual for the secretary of defense to actually engage in even addressing as you call it, the chatter around washington about how another senior official may be fairing? its scenes extraordinare the secretary gates of all people, wedded keach and addressing that kind of chatter. >> i think he felt strongly enough about the job that general jones is doing and felt it was important enough that this team continue to work successfully together given all the crises on our plate, that he wanted to be loud and clear in his support of general jones and to dispel all of this nonsense chatter that exists out there. is it unusual? sure it is unusual that he felt it was warranted based upon how the general jones was being treated. >> well, i mean for those of us who don't cover-- >> you can read the stories as well as i can read them. >> i think i have said it, i have addressed this that a few different ways barbara.