Liberals shouldn't fear Bob Gates as Secretary of Defense

Back when Robert Gates was named the Secretary of Defense...he was free to change things, Gates was effective and gained the respect and confidence of the uniformed military. Gates wasn't there for Abu Ghraib or Walter Reed or armor shortages, but he came in during the aftermath and was tasked with not just cleaning up the mess, but making sure those critical errors were not allowed to happen again. Gates moved confidently and swiftly, unencumbered by any doctrinaire view from the president on these "smaller" issues, and proved himself a very adept administrator. It's for this reason that we went from six retired Generals calling for the Secretary of Defense to be fired, to none.

Now, with a new Commander in Chief with a very different view, Gates provides the perfect short-term bridge between the eras of pre-Iraq-redeployment and post-Iraq-redeployment. And, that seems to be what President-Elect Obama sees Gates as -- a civil servant who does the job he's tasked with, and does it well. Politically, it also gives some cover to Obama from the right, to use one of George W. Bush's team to carry out a dramatic change in policy.

For those who worry that Gates will somehow drag President Obama to the right on Iraq...the second question has to be "Why does Gates want to stay with Obama?" It's not because Gates wants to preserve some neo-con view in the administration -- after all, Gates is a Bush I guy, a moderate who sees more eye-to-eye with Brent Scowcroft (an opponent of the war) than Paul Wolfowitz. It's not to preserve the current course, because Gates is smart enough to know that with Hillary Clinton, James Jones, and Barack Obama, staying the course will never win out.

The only reasonable answer is that Gates clearly understands that there will be a new course for our military, that includes redeployment from Iraq, and wants to make it work. If he didn't, he had a very nice private sector life that he could have gone to.

There is little time to spare here, as has been made clear by the timelines for redeployment that the Iraqis are calling for. By keeping Gates, the Department of Defense is the one place in government that will be spared the pains of leadership transition. Gates won't have to "hit the ground running," because he's already running. And now -- finally -- with a new mission from the top, Gates is well positioned to help Barack Obama keep the promises he made during his campaign.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-soltz/why-the-gates-pick-works_b_146671.html
My hunch is that Gates wants a chance to make the kind of leaps in the Middle East I have been writing about for some time. He wants to try and push Iran-US relations into a constructive direction. He wants to change the game in Afghanistan -- and the answer will not be a military-dominant strategy. He wants to try and stabilize Iraq in a negotiated, confidence building process that includes Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey and other regional forces. And he wants to support a big push on Israel-Palestine peace and reconfigure relations between much of the Arab League and Israel.

National Security Advisor-to-be Jim Jones is on the same page as Gates -- and the two of them will constitute a considerably strong axis of power inside the Obama White House. My hunch is that Hillary Clinton and her State Department Deputy James Steinberg will work collaboratively to achieve this vision.

It's a big gamble...But the gamble could be a very big payoff for Obama and the country -- and would actually deliver the "change" that so many are expecting...not trying to be naive or to give Obama too many breaks. But I am trying to understand his choices and how he thinks he's going to achieve his policy targets.
http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/2008/11/robert_gates_sh/
Choosing Gates, which also fulfills a pledge to bring Republicans to the table of his Cabinet, means Obama really plans to spend the bulk of his time trying to right the economic ship by creating and preserving jobs, protecting pensions, keeping people in their homes, increasing wages, investing in job training and even, perhaps, expanding healthcare. While he focuses on these vexing problems, he can count on Gates to continue his solid leadership at the Pentagon, continuing to ensure Iraq remains stable, stable enough that American troops can leave eventually. Imagining someone learning the ropes with our national security challenges now is a chilling thought...Richard Danzig, who advises Obama on national security matters, said about Gates staying on: that he could do "even better" under new leadership. Let's hope that's true.
http://pundits.thehill.com/2008/11/26/in-defense-of-defense-secretary-gates/#...

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[GoreyFantod]

Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel were both opposed to the Iraq War Crime.

Kucinich has been proposing a Department of Peace for years & Gravel put his career on the line to help end the Vietnam War Crime.

[Wizard364]

Ron Paul was the only candidate in favor of ending the Iraq War. Obama really only promised to raise taxes on rich people and equivocated on everything else so all the anti Iraq war Obama supporters were really just filling in the gaps on who they wanted Obama to be and not who he really is. Look at Obama's voting record with regard to the Iraq War and stripping Americans of their civil rights and then look at McCain's record on these same issues. They're nearly identical.

[EricIndiana]

Yes, America should fear Robert Gates.

America should start fearing the spies that being pumped out at the Jesuit Ivy leagues, such as the Edmund A Walsh School of Foreign Service.

Robert Gates, James Jones, Gen Petareus, Gen Casey, Bill Clinton, Prince Turki, Pres Arroyo.

Never ever ever trust a Jesuit.

They are the Holy Sees eyes, and ears.

Opus Dei neither, those spy and traitor accomplices run the Supreme Court now.

Who do you think Robert Hanssen was getting his orders from?

Opus Dei.

[renoboy666]

Like the military, Robert Gates will do what he is asked to do by the commander-in-chief and carry out the orders given to him. I think he will make a very good transitional Secretary of Defense.

[oldhacks]

Mike Gravel seems to be comfortable with him which is a good sign to me.

[EuthanizeReligion]

Nobody in this world can possibly be Anti War i am all for peace but i have to admit war is necessary at a time like this.

I am for peace but at the same time i am a realist.

[ChicagoJoe57]

Yes, he said so on Barbara Walters tonight. Also, he said on CNN that he will be in control and that an experienced cabinet should not cause fear among his supporters. I am not going to start ripping him before he gets into office. The GOP fears him so I really don't thing that he has turned into a mcCain.

[tubechapulin]

hahah!! Unbelievable!!

It is clear now. The only anti-war candidate of all democrats and republicans was Ron Paul.