Posted on 11/08/2006 3:36:27 PM PST by MadIvan
Robert Gates, the 63-year-old career intelligence officer chosen to replace Donald Rumsfeld at the Pentagon, takes over with the clearest of missions: get American troops out of Iraq as quickly and cleanly as possible.
Mr Gates was, subject to Congressional approval, propelled into the top ranks of the Bush Administration today as Secretary of Defence only hours after voters handed President Bush what he agreed himself was a "thumping" in mid-term elections.
The deeply unpopular Mr Rumsfeld, seen by his enemies as a reckless warmonger and attacked even by senior military officers for strategic blunders, was the obvious scapegoat for the electoral meltdown. Since the invasion of Iraq in March, 2003, more than 2,800 US soldiers have been killed in Iraq.
Although Mr Bush told a White House press conference this afternoon that Mr Rumsfeld's departure should not be taken as a signal that America would be withdrawing from Iraq, he made it clear that the former CIA director had not been chosen as continuity candidate.
The President freely admitted that his Iraq policy was "not working well enough, fast enough" and needed new leadership.
Although Mr Gates is currently serving as president of Texas A&M University, he has been active recently as a member of the Iraq Study Group led by James Baker, the Bush family confidant and former Secretary of State.
That Group has yet to report, but its draft recommendations have been widely leaked and amount to a radical reshaping of US Iraq policy that would have been unthinkable a year ago - including a large reduction of US troop levels and a diplomatic push to engage Iraq's neighbours, including Iran and Syria.
The Group has also pushed for the Iraqi Government to take more responsibility for its own affairs, politically and militarily.
Since those recommendations have not been formally given to the White House, Mr Bush has not had to accept or reject them. But the Administration has noticeably changed its language on Iraq - Mr Bush no longer speaks of "staying the course" for example - and Mr Rumsfeld's departure allows the unthinkable to become policy.
And it would be unthinkable for Mr Bush to appoint his new Pentagon chief from among the group's members if he did not agree with their conclusions.
Born in Wichita, Kansas, in 1943, Mr Gates joined the CIA in 1966 and rose from working-level officer to become its director, also serving as a member of the National Security Council.
He was first nominated as CIA director in 1987 by Ronald Reagan but withdrew amid questions over his and the CIA’s role in the secret sales of arms to Iran and the diversion of profits to Nicaragua’s Contra rebels - the accusation against him being that he hid the truth about the Iran-Contract affair from Congress.
He was nominated again by the first President Bush and led the CIA from 1991 to 1993.
Mr Bush described him today as "a steady, solid leader who can help make the necessary adjustments in our approach to meet our current challenges".
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
The lede for this article is an absolute lie with no factual basis - just the pinko journalist's opinion.
Great. Now we'll have even more leaks at the Pentagon.
I certainly hope this guy does not see his job that way?
It will be first, a Peace treaty,(Signed By Liars on Both sides)
then a withdrawl,( then a Victory celebration that the Terrorists drove out the Great Satan.
then a Flood if Iranian millitants into Iraq.
and in 2-3 Years..the Iraq Govt will be overthrown,
and the Millitant Sharia Caliphate will take over,
and then the Democrats will Blame Bush and the Republicans.
They will say that because of Bush they couldn't get their "message" of Love and peace out to the mullahs.
Dear God. I pray that the Iraqis will be able to defend themselves if we abandon them. I pray for the success of the Iraqi democracy our troops and the Iraqi people have worked for hard for.
They are also lifetime members of Barney the Dinosaur's Fan Club. /sarcasm/
When we pull out of Iraq and the Mooslims start setting off bombs here in the U.S., it will be BUSH that will be blamed and not the DemRats!
I don't think you will be too far off on your prediction I am afraid.
The 'insurgent' strategy worked very well, didn't it. 3-30 bodies per day translated into how many votes? Now, the men and women who have died will blow away like dust, as those from Nam did. I suppose the spitting and tomato throwing will start soon. (I would say sarcasm, but it's not)
I'm sure Hizbullah agrees... they, like the democrats, see Vietnam, check out the video.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1734798/posts
Our troops should resign in disgust.
Yep but how many FReepers will swallow it hook, line, and sinker? I bet over 70%.
The fear I have is if we leave Iraq without the strategic situation resolved in Iran, we are going to be in trouble.
Gates: Got any time in combat boots?
Yes but does Jon Cary think he is educated enough? Which reminds me....
O lny srmat poelpe can raed tihs.
cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The
phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy,
it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm.
Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!
The headline does not match the content of this article.
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