With our soldiers fighting in two wars, it is change enough that they are about to get a new commander in chief. Alone in George Bush’s cabinet, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has earned the chance to keep his job. Gates came to the job with a reputation for honest and nonpartisan public service. A career operative in the CIA, he rose through the ranks to become, under the first President Bush, agency director. During his subsequent role as president of Texas A&M University, he served on the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. His track record of success in Iraq adds to that impeccable resume and makes him the right man for our new president. – Michael Goodwin, New York Daily News
Barack Obama’s secretary of defense is predicted to be none other than Robert Gates, who currently holds that post under Bush. Obama should think again. Gates expanded the infamous Bush doctrine, saying, “The United States will hold any state, terrorist group or other nonstate actor or individual fully accountable” for supporting or enabling terrorist efforts to obtain or use weapons of mass destruction. And the definition of “supporting or enabling” was very broad: “whether by facilitating, financing or providing expertise or safe haven for such efforts.” Many people voted for Obama because they believe he marks a clean breakfrom the reckless and lawless unilateralism of the dismal Bush Age. Keeping Gates on would betray those voters. – Matthew Rothschild, the Progressive
25 Comments
Robert Gates is the consumate non-political presidential cabinet member. I’m not sure he reveals which political party he belongs to, if any. He has participated in U.S. security activities most of his life.
Mr. Gates hasn’t held the position of Secretary of Defense long under President Bush. He took over when former two-time Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, departed.
Robert Gates has been excellent in all the activities in which he has participated from back in his high school days in Wichita.
Robert Gates was raised on south Belmont Street in Wichita. He was a “distinguished” Eagle Scout. He graduated from Wichita’s East High in 1961, reportedly with straight “A’s.” I have been told his brother was eventually principal of Southeast High School during the 1980’s.
He served in the U.S. Air Force. Career officer in the CIA and State Department. Obtained a PhD in Russian history/language from Georgetown University just down the street from the White House. After retirement from government service was President of Texas A&M.
Its imperative in these turbulent times that Robert Gates’ long and valuable life’s experience be retained in our federal government.
The tendency might be to throw the baby out with the bathwater, that everyone whom is serving or has served in the G.W. Administration is tainted with the smell of Bush. For a good many that would be a fair assessment. But for others it is more a ’They hooked their wagon to the wrong horse”.
Gates at least has shown he promotes the administration line but I have not truly seen him as in lockstep with the rest in his ideology. There is a difference between being a good soldier and being a mindless hack for the cause.
If Gates is good at what he does (and he seems to be), by all means keep him. Doing a good job crosses party boundaries.
Gates is a con appointed by the most incompetent and corrupt administration and President in history. We have elections for a reason. If Obama keeps Gates, I will see it as a pander to the right and reason number one for four years and out of Obama. Gates has to go.
BlueJay
Posted November 16, 2008 at 7:50 am | Permalink
Gates is a con appointed by the most incompetent and corrupt administration and President in history.
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Oh come on, Blue Jay. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. Gates was probably one of the best appointments Bush made. Unlike most of Bush choices, Gates seems to be competent.
Here’s why I say Gates has to go X.
“A career operative in the CIA, he rose through the ranks to become, under the first President Bush, agency director. ”
George senior was CIA as well. We know that the forces that gave us W are deeply entrenched in government and the military industrial complex. The Project for a New American Century crowd? Gates is no doubt, one of them. More? Winning in Iraq (impossible) has not been accomplished with Gates. He HAS made the occupation of Iraq more palpable (the intention).
I think I agree with BJ, Gates would seem to be too beholden to bush, and like a loyal dog has marched along with his master.
Where has Gates differed from bush on policy, whether it’s Iraq/Afghanistan or with purchasing foreign aircraft for America’s defense?
I think Gates needs to go, I’m sure there are just as good if not better talent that Obama could tap.
I haven’t seen Gates as a true Bushbot. In fact, I think Gates was chosen as a replacement for Rumsfeld because George W. Bush knew at that time he was in trouble with the American people.
Blue Jay – you sound like you don’t want anyone but Democrats in the Obama cabinet. Our country is in serious trouble and we are going to need the help of every capable American – whether they be Democrat, Republican or Independent.
If Gates has the trust of Obama, then why not keep him on a Secretary of Defense?
Like I said mom, Gates has made the occupation of Iraq more successful.
The OCCUPATION of Iraq was the true intention of the forces that gave us W. That is the limit of Gates’s competence. Succeeding the con agenda.
Elections matter. Republicans were SOUNDLY rejected. Let them EARN any small measure of trust
” Trust, but verify”
Ronald Reagan
It was rumored (which means someone could have made it up or there was some validity) that Daddy Bush called in a favor to get Gates to take over the mess Rumsfeld added to. It has never seemed Gates wanted the position but took the responsibility out of service to country. That’s a better starting place than ambition, I think. His staying for a short time may help ensure a smooth transition.
No doubt Mr. Gates will be deemed too competent to keep, he’ll be replaced with someone seeking a political services reward.
I didn’t realize that Bush was planning a lame-duck shake-up of his cabinet. Thanks for the heads-up Nut.
But Blue Jay – I just don’t see Gates as a rabid Neo-Con pushing for their agenda. Just like Reagan said – trust, but verify. And how do we know what side of the political fence Gates is on – does anyone know? And if Obama has trust in Gates, then why should I second guess him?
I think Linda makes a good point. Maybe having Gates in a short term role in so far as seeing that our troops in Iraq are safely on their way home, makes sense to me. Why rock the boat now with a change in leadership?
bth – you’re right on.
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