[anniegetyourgun]

I fear Gates won’t even make it through the year.

[ilgipper]

I agree. He must have taken this job knowing it would not end well...bascially in a very public stand-off between common sense (his views) and crazy radicalism. Maybe he figured he will be able to see out success for a longer period of time in Iraq/Afghanistan, and try to carry on some level of reality at the Pentagon with the job, rather than turning it over to the nuts now.

[Thunder90]

I think that Gates stayed in to protect the troops for as long as possible and to try to make sure that the WOT ends in some sort of success. Westley Clark will be Gates replacement in May of 2010, with someone filling in the interim should Gates not make it until that time.

[ridesthemiles]

I fear Gates won’t even make it through the year.”

I don’t think Gates will make it to July 4th.
That is the date NObama intends to announce that he is demanding all members of the American Armed Forces and National Guard retake an oath of alligence to him, The President, instead of to the country and the Constitution.
See thread 2174433.