The man who stands between US and new war

[Rosa Luxemburg]

Source: Daily Telegraph (UK)

Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, has taken charge of the forces in the American government opposed to a US military attack on Iran, writes Tim Shipman.

Pentagon and State Department officials say Mr Gates has set himself up as chief rival to Dick Cheney in a bid to thwart the vice president's desire to bomb the Islamic state.

Those familiar with internal battles in the Bush administration say Mr Gates has eclipsed Condoleezza Rice, the secretary of state, as the chief opponent of air strikes and is the main reason President George W.Bush has yet to resort to military action.

Pentagon sources say Mr Gates is waging a subtle campaign to undermine the Cheney camp by encouraging the army's senior officers to speak frankly about the overstretch of forces, and the difficulty of fighting another war.


Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/07/wiran307.xml

---

Is Robert Gates going to fight Cheney single handed? What is going on?

[daninthemoon]

1. Maybe he and Rice can call powell and poppy, and they can

have an intervention in the oval office. Some people get hooked on crack, bushler got hooked on cheney. First step.

[kansasblue]

3. ' I don't know how to quit you ' nt

[daninthemoon]

4. Dirty little secret, eh?

:rofl:

[rodeodance]

2. I give Gates lots of credit-----as he is having the Generals speak out. Smart move!

[scarletwoman]

5. "Is Robert Gates going to fight Cheney single handed?" Wow! That would be SO hot!!!

Stripped down to loincloths, oiled muscles glistening in the torchlight, panting and grunting...

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. Gates is an old school straight forward intelligent guy.

How did we get so lucky for a change??

[libodem]

7. What the

Commander and Chief is clinically insane and so is the VP, are they just noticing? They aren't falling all over themselves to be lead astray by crazy men. That takes guts. They better stay out of small aircraft and pay up their fire insurance. They are dealing with petty vengeful ideologues. Most are rightfully afraid to cross them.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

8. GOP cracking at the seams though

before it was harder to complain about the current 'regime' (when we talk about fascists we talk about regimes generally!) Now we are seeing cracks so people are starting to take a stand. David vs Goliath hopefully?