United States Vice President Joe Biden has somewhat of a reputation for flying off the handle when it comes to using the correct words — especially in how it pertains to his lofty job.

This dubious renown proved itself credible once again over this past weekend, while Biden visiting Istanbul to speak with Turkish leaders about a number of issues that included the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) — who he condemned as terrorists, ISIS and the dire, bloody civil war in Syria — which drew the former Delaware senator’s flub.

This from AFP:

Biden said work was continuing on finding a political solution to Syria’s almost five-year civil war, saying: “We are neither optimistic nor pessimistic. We are determined.”

He added: “But we are prepared if that is not possible to having a military solution to this operation and taking out Daesh (IS),” he said.

A US official emphasized that Biden’s comments did not herald any change in US policy in Syria, saying he was referring to the simultaneous pursuit of a political solution alongside the fight against IS.

In matters of war, like sending Americans overseas to the hellscape that is modern day Syria, it pays to be specific.