Biden plays ball with Karzai, Salahis

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For those who missed President Obama's war strategy speech Tuesday night, luckily there was Vice President Joe Biden's take on the CBS Early Show Wednesday morning -- sort of a Cliffs Notes version, with subtitles and a vague sports analogy.

"The purpose is to make it clear to Karzai and his government -- who up to now has been unwilling to step up to the ball, look to us for everything -- that, 'Fellas, you've got to step up to the ball,'" Biden said. "And by the way, our overarching goal is al Qaeda."

Biden! Sometimes when he speaks, it's like he's channeling Bush 1 and 2. CBS anchor Harry Smith also asked Biden about last week's state dinner, where -- indeed -- the vice president met the Salahis!

"Well, I didn't realize it'd get so much coverage because of a couple that walked up that acted like they were my old buddies, and I thought they were some -- because I've not been part of the social scene very much, commuting for 36 years down here," Biden said.

He added, "And I thought, 'Well, these guys are just staples, you know, in Washington society.' I was surprised when I turned on the television and find out they were apparently gate-crashers."