Posted on 04/18/2010 4:09:01 AM PDT by quesney
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has warned in a secret three-page memorandum to top White House officials that the United States does not have an effective long-range policy for dealing with Iran’s steady progress toward nuclear capability, according to government officials familiar with the document.
Several officials said the highly classified analysis, written in January to President Obama’s national security adviser, Gen. James L. Jones, came in the midst of an intensifying effort inside the Pentagon, the White House and the intelligence agencies to develop new options for Mr. Obama. They include a set of military alternatives, still under development.
Officials familiar with the memo’s contents would describe only portions dealing with strategy and policy, and not sections that apparently dealt with secret operations against Iran, or how to deal with Persian Gulf allies.
One senior official, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the memo, described the document as “a wake-up call.” But White House officials dispute that view, insisting that for 15 months they had been conducting detailed planning for many possible outcomes regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
In an interview on Friday, General Jones...said: "The fact that we don’t announce publicly our entire strategy for the world to see doesn’t mean we don’t have a strategy that anticipates the full range of contingencies — we do.”
But in his memo, Mr. Gates wrote of a variety of concerns, including the absence of an effective strategy should Iran choose the course that many government and outside analysts consider likely: Iran could assemble all the major parts it needs for a nuclear weapon — fuel, designs and detonators — but stop just short of assembling a fully operational weapon.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
His Puppet-Master, Dear Leader, (or one of his Chicago Thug minions, "Rhambo" Emanuel or Axelrod) provides Gates with the days' talking points and like a good Obamabot, Lemming, Gates regurgitates whatever he is instructed to dutifully repeat.
Mmm, mmm, mmm!
When confused by a beligerant state and threat to global peace and stability, the best policy is to bomb the problem away.
What remains ironic is that Gates was once considered the protege of the greatest CIA Director/DCI in U.S. history, the late William J. Casey. Casey viewed Gates as nearly a son.
Both Casey and the Gipper are no doubt shaking their heads sadly from up on High.
0bama has already demonstrated and *continues* to demonstrate his utter ineptitude and incompetence. He remains totally unqualified to sit in the same Office as did Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, FDR, Truman, and Reagan.
We lack the leadership, thats all.
“I guess it’s not that secret anymore, thanks to the NYT.”
Yes, but there’s some comfort in knowing now that it’s “official.” Thus, critics of Obama’s policy can now say “We agree with Sec. Gates that something needs to be done about this. Why hasn’t this administration done more?” or “In light of Sec. Gates’ expressed concerns about this matter, why isn’t the U.S. more publicly supporting/assisting Israel’s ability to carry out an effective military strike if that turns out to be needed to avert what the president has said is an “unacceptable” outcome?”
In short, it makes it harder for Gibbs or any other administration spokesperson to act as if everything’s hunky-dory with the current policy of benign neglect. Indeed, most careful observers would infer by the administration’s slow-footedness that it is preparing itself and the public to accept Iranian nuclear weapons as a regrettable but necessary outcome.
“Gates Says U.S. Lacks Policy to Curb Iran’s Nuclear Drive”
Correction: “U.S. [under Comrade Obama] Lacks [THE WILL] to Curb [RUSSIA ALLY] Iran’s Nuclear Drive”
Despite the fact that Gates was a Stanfield Turner toady, Casey liked the guy and promoted him over sixty CIA employees with greater seniority. In doing so, he allowed Gates to keep his USSR portfolio of which he was was in charge. Ironically, Gates never did get a handle on the Soviet economy and its military budget. He did not really anticipate what perestroika would bring. He was surprised by the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Soviet crack-up. Nevertheless, he retained Casey’s confidence because he could charm the vultures from their nest and was a particular favority of Congress. He remains so today, reportedly for his willingness to share secrets with the Senate’s leadership.
you mean asking nicely and bowing to them didn’t work! shocking.
/s
LLS
Why are we just seeing this now?
Guess they will hurry and put something together in an ops plan and send it to the field (AOR). Maybe 6 pages and two of the pages will be a bio on Obama.
I would shred it..and worry about an IG inspection later.
Gates is nothing but a sock puppet for zer0
Is there anyone with a backbone anymore?
Yeah but they have all the resources they need to form a plan to cater to homosexuals in the military because everyone knows how important thatis to the President.
For valuing the truth above the regime, I suspect Gates will soon be joining the rest of the crowd.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.