Heh.

Q [Thomas] (off mike): Why should we depend on him?

MS. PERINO: Because he’s the commander on the ground, Helen. He’s the one who is making sure that the situation —

Q (off mike): — You mean how many more people we kill?

MS. PERINO: Helen, I find it really unfortunate that you use your front-row position bestowed upon you by your colleagues to make such statements. It is an honor and a privilege to be in the briefing room, and to suggest that we as the United States are killing innocent people is just absurd and very offensive.

Q: Do you know how many we have since the start of the war?

MS. PERINO: How many — we are going after the enemy, Helen. To the extent that any innocent Iraqis have been killed, we have expressed regret for it.

Q :Well, regret it doesn’t bring back a life.

MS. PERINO: Helen, we are in a war zone, and our military works extremely hard to make sure that everyone has the opportunity for liberty and freedom and democracy, and that is exactly what they’re doing.

Q (off mike): — Oh, regret. It doesn’t bring back a life.

MS. PERINO: I’m going to move on.

I would say that Thomas is a disgrace to her profession, but it was their choice to put her on the front row in these gaggles. It’s therefore their call whether she’s a disgrace or not, and if they think she is they’ll move her off the front row.

They haven’t.

The Washington Times is also reporting on the exchange. Video is here.

Update: Here’s the exchange. Based on Perino’s tone, you could reasonably assume that she’s talking to a child. The pity is that she is.