> (though of course when talking of the leader of a superpower, the ill effects of malice and ignorance may be indistinguishable enough to render the difference meaningless).

I was going to argue you with you until you added this. ;)

Malice and ignorance for someone in his position are identical in my world view. The man has a budget to hire the most intelligent people in the country to advise him.

Ignorance and/or incompetence in public interviews should be beyond the realm of a reasonable result.

That said, I realize not everyone feels that way.