Posted on 01/13/2014 5:22:14 PM PST by kristinn
Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates pushed back against critics who suggested he should have sat on his memoir about his years in the Obama administration, insisting his tell-all is not a betrayal of Obama.
In an interview with Yahoo News Global Anchor Katie Couric, Gates insisted he did not have an adversarial relationship with Obama and that he has a lot of admiration for the president. But the former defense secretary, who also worked for President George W. Bush, did not mince words about Obamas current and former top aides, who have slammed Gates account as being self-serving and driven by politics.
Well, for a micromanaging White House, they should go look in the mirror, Gates told Couric. Maybe they ought to think about how they do business. And I think its fair to say that the book is a lot more critical about the people around the president than it is of the president.
Still, Gates said Obama was ultimately responsible for setting the tone of a White House he says was marked by tension and infighting between the presidents staff and more senior members of the administration.
SNIP
But while Gates tried to downplay his criticism of Obamas leadership, he faulted the president for being suspicious of military leadership. And he also criticized his unwillingness to explain to the public why the mission in Afghanistan was important and worth the sacrifice of those serving even if he didnt fully support the war.
I think its the obligation of the commander in chief. You are sending out men and women into harms way, Gates said. You need to tell them why their cause is just, why their cause is noble. You cant go out there and tell them, 'I want you to risk your lives for a tie.'
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
He has “a lot of admiration” for Obama? He’s a moron, then.
How did Gates sustain an injury? He seems to be softening his position now - hmmmm. Odd.
WaPo says he had a bad fall at home and has a fractured vertebra and is in great pain.
Vacation guy only kept him on to have a Republican to blame for anything that went wrong.
That being said, Gates shows a tiny pair and excoriates the commie in chief in a book, but only to continue to keep the money coming in.
He's basically a hack and dishonorable opportunist.
Isn’t Obama already on his fourth Sec. of Defense? Sheesh.
My, my. One must watch their step at home after writing a non-flattering book about The One.
Has anybody seen Valerie Jarrett, or has she high-tailed it to Myanmar?
"I walked into a pole. Yes, it was right after I published, yes. No, I don't fancy a flight to Molokai, no. No, I have no plans to drive fast at night to LAX, no..."
Isn’t she still vacationing with Mechelle?
Gates is half stepping and will get nowhere fast or slow. He just can not bring himself to reveal the truth about our first black POTUS.
What is Obama’s rating today? Everything depends on that. That’s why you have the New York Times coming out with such obvious lies. They have to keep Obama’s popularity up. Why? He’s not running again. Why MUST they protect his popularity, even to the point of destroying themselves? Think about it.
I don’t like all this book writing they all seem to do but in thus case, I’m glad he did. I wish this would have happened sooner but it didn’t—it is what it is.
In the book The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich some of the military leaders kept planning to or wanting to stand up but never really got there.
I only hope that more will decide to stand up if there is a threat or problem for/to our country—it needs to be out in the open. Hiding things and failing to address reality helped Hitler destroy his own country.
I’m glad Gates did this, even if late but this still doesn’t make me a Gates fan.
Can you tell me, please? I’m thinking about it but I do believe I’m coming down with a nasty cold—my thinking isn’t functioning very well. Heck, I couldn’t even navigate around my Kindle when I tried...my head is swimming.
Sounds to me like he’s not backing down. Naturally, he has to say the stupid “admiration” stuff (after all, otherwise he’s a racist, right?), but look at the other very definite and forthright things he said.
Out here in the prairie, we call this “ridin’ for the brand”. As long as you are sleeping the bunkhouse, eatin’ off the chuck wagon, and takin’ those wages, you do what the man tells you to do. When you get tired of it, you clear out of the bunkhouse, throw your tack in your pick up truck, load your horse in the stock trailer, collect your wages, and head on down the road. What you say, do, or write about after that is your business.
Three: Gates, Panetta and Hagel.
I’m sorry. I hope you get well soon. Trust me. It is better for you to think through this than for me to just give you my answer. If Obama can’t be hurt by losing a re-election (he can’t run again), then how could the Republicans possibly hurt him now in a way that he and the Democrat party would really be afraid of?
Nicely said. Thanks for sharing a a fine example of “duty” in riding for the brand and the true freedom a loyal man has once duty is served.
As you know well, the Empty Saddle memorial for our fallen cowboys and loyal benefactors to the western way of life is often introduced at panhandle rodeos as “riding for the brand”.
Thanks, Rita
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