Former Defense Official: Obama Keeping Gates The "Dumbest Thing I've Ever Heard"

[democracy1st]

Defense Secretary Robert Gates is often mentioned as a potential Bush 43 holdover in the new Obama administration. According to most reports, Gates is not only popular among the service branches, but also with Democrats, who have appreciated the secretary's moderate instincts during his time at the helm following Donald Rumsfeld.

But not everyone is sold on the idea. One former high-ranking defense official now advising Obama told the Huffington Post that keeping Gates around is "the dumbest thing I've ever heard." The former official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he has told the Obama transition team as much.

"Most people don't realize that you can't just keep Gates," the former official said. "You've gotta keep some part of his team. We're not going to keep Gates and then appoint a new deputy, a whole new staff." The official, who spoke from personal experience within the bureaucracy, said that as an administrator, "you need your own people. And a lot of those people were neoconservative architects of the war."

The official cited in particular Defense Department undersecretary for policy Eric Edelman as a key assistant to Gates who should not remain in an Obama administration. Edelman, a former aide to Vice President Dick Cheney from 2001 to 2003, courted controversy last year when he criticized Sen. Hillary Clinton's position on the Iraq war for "reinforc enemy propaganda."

Recently-retired Army officer Bob Mackey said that the concern over Gates's staff had some merit, but might not be too difficult for the Obama transition team to address, should they decide to keep Gates in his post. "It all depends what level we're talking about," Mackey said, agreeing with the former defense official that Gates's "undersecretaries and assistant undersecretaries, you'd need to replace those people."

However, Mackey argued, the benefits of keeping Gates might be worth that trouble. "The argument, besides the fact that everybody likes Gates, is 'don't change boats in midstream.' He's actually listened to the commanders in field, instead of battling them back and forth."

Mackey also said Gates could be a serviceable interim secretary until retired four-star Gen. Anthony Zinni is available to serve in 2010 (since he only retired from the military in 2000). "Zinni's the guy you really want in there," Mackey said.

The former defense official, by contrast, had another person in mind for the department. "I would push Hagel. He's very well qualified," the official said. "And again, Obama's talked about being bipartisan. But the best thing would be the fact that he was an enlisted soldier in Vietnam. Think of the message would send to our young troops. Plus, he has management experience: he was number two in the VA and he started his own company . It's not like this is a guy who's never managed anything."

As for another rumored DOD short-lister, former Navy Secretary Richard Danzig, the source said he could make a good choice as well. "But again, the question is in terms of that signal that you send. You and I know who Richard is, but what about people around the world? What you want to do with Cabinet selections is send a signal about what you want to do."


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/07/former-defense-official-o_n_142079.html

[Captain Hilts]

1. Gates is doing a very good job under very difficult circumstances. Keep him.

The troops will like the continuity and it is the perfect place to show bi-partisianship.

You don't have to like the Sec. of Defense, as you do the Attorney General.

[Greg K]

6. Agreed. He's been doing a good job cleaning up after Rumsfeld.

[Ian David]

2. Obviously, Mackay doesn't read the DU Health Forum. n/t

[Vickers]

3. Wes Clark will also be available in 2010.

:patriot:

[KewlKat]

4. There are always exceptions as such was the case in the past

By statute the secretary must be a civilian who has not served in the active component of the armed forces for at least 10 years (10 U.S.C. § 113)

However, Congress passed a law to allow George Marshall to be appointed in 1950 despite having only been a civilian since 1945. So, Clark could be Sec of Defense is such action was taken.

[Algorem]

5. Gates=BFEE.He should be kept.In a cell.

[fascisthunter]

7. true dat

[Rydz777]

8. Anyone would look "moderate" after Rumsfeld

The criterion should be someone who will preside over some serious downsizing (e.g. Barney Frank's 25 % cut.) Gates does not fit that suit.

[kayakjohnny]

9. Maybe Mr. O will help get rid of that "condition of anonymity" thing that seems to have

helped fuck this country up so badly lately. Either put your name to it or shut your fucking yap.