Gates breaks with Bush Admin., doesn't know if invading Iraq was the right thing to do

[ck4829]

It's been an article of faith for the Bush administration that the invasion of Iraq was the right thing to do.

However, the man now in charge of running that war said he is not sure.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates' stunningly candid answer came in an interview with New York Times columnist David Brooks.

Gates: 'I Don't Know'

Asked if the invasion of Iraq was worth doing, Gates first rephrased the question: "If I'd known then what I know now, would I have done the same? I think the answer is, 'I don't know.'"

http://www.abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=3626377&page=1

[babylonsister]

1. That's from last week; no doubt he'll change his tune this week. I

have lost any faith in Gates I might have had.

[madokie]

9. I lost that faith long ago

if I ever had any to start with

http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/walsh/chap_16.htm

[Captain Hilts]

2. He's never voiced support for the invasion.

He's done as good a job in that post as can be done under the constraints of the administration.

He's fired the right guys - Sec. of Army, Walter Reed people - and hired the right guys - Adm. Fallon and Adm. Mullens, neither of whom buys into the war.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

3. How did the Bush admin f*** up and let this wild eyed common- senser into the inner circle?

Maybe he's rethinking whether he wants to follow in Rumsfeld's footsteps? :shrug: MKJ

[rodeodance]

4. AND Petraeus does not KNOW if fighting in Iraq is making us safer.

[Donnachaidh]

5. Gates rolling out his *good cop* ploy again?

He seems to always trail Bush's blunders, with this "I'm just a military guy, aw shucks" routine. He's not one to be trusted, and his convenient interviews are well-timed.

[Captain Hilts]

6. "Army guy?" He keeps appointing navy guys who oppose the war to key posts. nt

[Donnachaidh]

8. so I should just put *military* -- I'll edit it.

And appointing people who oppose the war who do NOTHING about it doesn't really mean much, now does it?

But it's a pr plus for him. :shrug:

[leveymg]

7. Gates isn't really part of the Bush43 Administration.

He's a Bush41 apparatchik, brought in to fix things. Not a true believer.

Not an enthusiast for "doing" Iran, either.

[Captain Hilts]

10. Thank you for understanding the nuances of the situation. nt