Gosh...good question.
I don't know...I just found it too coincidental that Pres. Bush would use that phrase so soon after Gates did...and he swore in Gates yesterday.
Maybe it is a chicken/egg thing...Pace may have said it first to Gates...Gates said it during the hearings...
I sure don't know the answer...I guess Pres. Bush and Pace could have had NO influence by Gates when that came up.
All I know is...when Gates gave his speech after being sworn in, I listened very carefully to what he said..and one of the first things he said was that Pres. Bush expects and wants an "HONEST" assessment..NOT, how grateful he was for the job, and thank you Mr. President....
I may be nitpicking...but, I read it as him telling people that HE is going to do that AWFUL thing that libs are always calling for..."speaking truth to power"....ugh
Ugh is right!!! Of course truth is relative, doncha know. ;*)