Posted on 07/28/2010 4:31:39 PM PDT by Big Bureaucracy
While President Obama is chatting with the ladies of the View the Defense Secretary Robert Gates gave yet another speech on leadership,this time in front of the crowd of 45 000 Boy Scouts at their Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, Va (DoD photo by Cherie Cullen):
“There are too many places in American life today without the Boy Scouting values of self-reliance, self-control, honor, integrity and morality,” Gates said. “From Wall Street to Washington to our hometowns, in all our lives there are people who seek after riches or the many kinds of power without regard to what is right or true or decent.”
The Defense Secretary is bashing Wall Street? Good for him! But why?
May be Robert Gates is considering a Presidential run in 2012? He already stated he may retire from DOD leadership position by the end of 2010, although the final decision is not announced yet. This would be a perfect timing to announce a run for Presidency, especially if the Surge in Afghanistan succeeds...
At the time when President Obama is looking for any excuse to avoid a simple trip to Indonesia – Robert Gates is traveling around the world in hot spots like South Korea.
Gates was even dis-invited from a visit to China – this is the ultimate badge of honor. Robert Gates made China throw a tantrum! It was so refreshing after watching President Obama bowing tour all around the world.
Some wonder if the massive WikiLeaks documents dump could affect a potential Gates run for President. The leaks may help the US strategy in the war in Afghanistan. How?
Imagine if the US officials keep screaming that the Pakistani government and military are corrupt – the anti-American sentiment will turn such complaints against the US. Instead the Pakistani corruption is leaked through anti-war sources – the world believes those have weight on the issue. So the Coalition forces can proceed with the hardest part of the Surge in Afghanistan, because the whole world can see – the only partner that can give us a diplomatic solution (Pakistan) is corrupt and playing a double game.
OK – this is just a conspiracy theory, but Robert Gates made his career in the CIA, so why not?
Why is he bashing Wall Street in front of the Boy Scouts?
Gates doesn’t impress me either.
I agree with Jedidah. However bashing Washington DC and Wall Street: sounds like a campaign speech.
Gates didn’t want the job to start with, took it only because W needed him. And I don’t think he wanted to stay on when Obama took office, but has been standing in the gap for us the past year and a half.
Gates has a strong sense of duty. He left Washington once, and only went back because he was needed. Keep in mind that the surge in Iraq was on his watch and after he told Congress that things were in a stalemate there.
Don’t know how much longer he can take it. Maybe if we can flip Congress, they can demand a good replacement in exchange for confirmation.
I do not think he will run, but wouldn’t it be good to once again have a grownup in charge?
Bullsh!t!
If the scuttlebutt is accurate, Gates has hunkered down at Defense to protect our military men and women from Obama. How can that be accomplished without some significant political maneuvering (much of which might appear as you suggest--milquetoasty)?
Obama is a proof - anybody can be President. Can’t be worse. While Obama is chatting on the View - Gates is talking in front of 45 000. Makes the Obama View appearance even more bizarre. He could have been speaking to the crowd - instead he chose Joy Behar
ROTFLMAO!
He would NEVER make it through the primaries even!
Utter nonsense. It is unnecessary to post stupid speculation by the under employed.
It depends what kind of secrets he knows from his CIA time :)
Comparing with Obama and Joy Behar today - Gates looks presidential in front of the crowd. Obama missed a killer photo-op with the Scouts.
From what I hear, the military stands behind him. Not so for Obama.
Of course, I might be dead wrong. It isn't easy on the outside looking in. In fact, it isn't easy at present on the inside looking upward.
>> None of Romney’s 5 boys went to serve
If you’re a Romney, you’re used to BEING served.
If Obama did think that Gates was going to run in 2012, that would give him a reason to see to it that the surge in Afghanistan did fail...but I really doubt Gates has a 2012 run in mind.
First, sorry for being so abrupt with the "bullsh!t" comment. You may be perfectly correct about the 'milquetoast' thing.
The position I posited was one grounded more in the passion of wishful thinking than fact.
But I hope like hell you are wrong and I am right (that's the source of the charge of 'bullsh!t). I really hope that there are some heroic Americans working behind the scenes to protect our military from the insidious character and actions of Obama.
And I hope Gates is one of those heroes!
You may be right. The only thing: I don’t want to believe that somebody would cause the war to fail to hurt an opponent in elections.
By the way: if Obama is afraid from the Boy Scouts - he should be impeached - the US has real enemies. We don’t need a chicken-in-chief.
//We don’t need a chicken-in-chief//
But that is what we have.
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