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2006-11-09 Home Front: WoT
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Robert Gates and the "New Approach"
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"Greyhawk" at Mudville Gazette
I question the timing - obviously the Bush admin wants to steal the headlines from the Democrats!
But seriously folks - does anyone think Robert Gates woke up this morning to the stunning news that he was the new SecDef? Don't buy that for a minute.
One thing regarding the Democrat's victory I expected: hearings. A lot of folks were just sent to Washington on the promise of willingness to "ask the tough questions" on Iraq. (A nice way to deflect any concerns that you have no answers, of course, but I digress...) But what that translates to is hearings - probably hearings ad nauseum, and doubtless with multiple planned appearances from one Donald Rumsfeld. My guess - and I state this with sincerity - is that barring appointment of a Special Assistant to the Secretary for Listening to the Tough Questions, Mr Rumsfeld's ability to run the Defense Department would effectively come to a close in late January, 2007.
He may still be spending that time at the show trials, of course - he himself may in fact become the unpaid Special Assistant to the Secretary for Listening to the Tough Questions. But now it won't compromise his ability to lead a military in time of war.
I hope I'm wrong. I hope the man can retire in relative peace (he will always be a target, of course, and I mean that in many ways) and perhaps he can. Confirmation hearings for his replacement will certainly give us our first glimpse of whether this could be so. (And our first indication of the nature of next year's Senate. Uniters or dividers?)
Speaking of the replacement (and raise your hand if that's a job you'd take), here's a publication of interest to those desiring insight to our next SecDef (pending Senate approval). From 2004, Iran: Time for a New Approach: . . . .
You can buy a copy of the paperback for 15 bucks from Amazon, but 'cause I love you, man, you can download a pdf here for free. (Remember though, it's from two years ago...)
This looks like an interesting read too: From the Shadows: The Ultimate Insider's Story of Five Presidents and How They Won the Cold War by Robert Gates. 
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Posted by Mike 2006-11-09 06:58||
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Posted by SR-71 2006-11-09 10:14||
2006-11-09 10:14||
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