Gates Conceals Real Story of "Gaming" Obama on Afghan War ( Gareth Porter )

[Jefferson23]

1/11/2014

Criticism in the memoirs of former secretary of defence Robert M. Gates of President Barack Obama's lack of commitment to the Afghan War strategy of his administration has generated a Washington debate about whether Obama was sufficiently supportive of the war. But the Gates account omits two crucial historical facts necessary to understanding the issue. The first is that Obama agreed to the escalation only under strong pressure from his top national security officials and with very explicit reservations. The second is that Gen. David Petraeus reneged on his previous commitment to support Obama's 2009 decision that troop withdrawal would begin by mid-2011.

Danger signs appeared almost immediately that the pro-escalation coalition would seek to alter the policy in their favor.

Gates makes only the most glancing reference in the newly published "Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary of War" to the issue of the beginning of troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The former defence secretary refers to "suspicion and distrust of senior military officers" by both Obama and vice president Joe Biden. And he describes a March 3, 2011 National Security Council meeting in the White House situation room which Obama opened by criticising the military for "popping off in the press" and vowing to push back against any military delay in beginning the withdrawal.

Gates quotes Obama as saying, "If I believe I am being gamed ..." and says he left the sentence "hanging there with the clear implication the consequences would be dire."

remainder:http://www.opednews.com/articles/Gates-Conceals-Real-Story-by-Gareth-Porter-Afghanistan-Drawdown_McChrystal_Obama-Effect_Obama-Hater-140111-186.html

[RobertEarl]

1. Obama is still kicking

Guess the brass were put in their place. Their place being as servants to the master, the President.

I wonder how they are going to let their steam out? bush somehow managed to turn back the defense cuts Clinton set in place. How'd that work out for the country?

Thank you, President Obama, for standing up. It takes a lot of guts.

[MADem]

2. Gates is absurdly pissed off. He is coming off like a martinet, an asshole, in all this.

It is very bad form to do what he did, and that's what most people are saying.

You don't do your post-mortem while the corpse is still walking round. It's almost as though he really wants to shit in the punch, but all he looks like is a punch-shitter.

[Jefferson23]

4. He is lying through his teeth..and it was a planned political sucker punch, aimed

at Obama's face.

[MADem]

5. Too bad for him that his efforts were A Bridge Too Far....

The roll-out for his little book has been overshadowed by Chris Christie, who unintentionally, through his GWB-gate, has, in effect, blocked that sucker punch with his "I dunno" performance!

Christie sucked all of the air outta the room, and left none for Gates.

[Jefferson23]

7. I agree with that, but I would much prefer the WH and the Dems take Gates bullshit

head on. Rinse and repeat: "The self-serving Gates account conceals the dishonest tactics employed to get Obama’s agreement to the Afghan War escalation."

When you have the facts on your side, and they are clearly documented..go for their throat.

2014 elections are coming, I want to see as many of the Republicans gone as possible.

[MADem]

8. Plenty of heavy hitters have already stepped up and said "What a dee-word!"

Gates is coming off, after all of his effort crafting his little book, as a pissy, small-minded whiner. They aren't quite mocking him, but they are calling him petty, that his gripes are beneath his public service career, that he's just a foot-stomping, immature martinet and if you ever suspected that for a moment, well, now you know.

He's basically put his career in the crapper and flushed. He'll have to hope that the wingnut groups come along and buy his stupid tome in bulk, and hand it out at their little "Waaah Hate Hate Hate Democrats" fundraisers like Coulter screeds--otherwise he won't get much past his advance!

That said, the President can, if asked, make a restrained yet unambiguous and dignified response--perhaps suggesting that Mister Gates is confused about the meaning of the term "Commander in Chief" -- leaving unsaid that he is a jealous little shite who wanted his boss's job without having the political acumen or social skills to do it.

[Jefferson23]

13. For Obama, yes..he would approach it in a dignified manner..I agree. BUT, I want

to see the Dems use this against all the Republican liars, all their support for their
bogus horrific wars.

[Blue_Tires]

11. He's just whoring a little media spotlight for his book release

and nothing draws the spotlight like sensationalist bullshit...

By this time next month Gates will be under his rock again and we'll never hear about him....

[Jefferson23]

12. But I don't want him to slink away and be forgotten..I want him called out for the

fucking liar he is. This is what makes up the Republican party..liars who are not acting
in the best interests of their country.

[TroglodyteScholar]

3. Pres is not a weak man

Guess the old guard don't like that.

Looks so pathetic and desperate....

[freshwest]

14. Yes... he actually did Obama a favor by showing his was aware of their 'gaming.'

And that he wasn't going to change his mind about ending the war.

[bullwinkle428]

6. The bitter fucker is doing an "exclusive interview" with Hannity tomorrow night.

Enough said.

[spanone]

9. the MIC does not like approve of ending wars.

[gwheezie]

10. Most presidents find out the hard way to not listen to the generals

unless they were a general also. I've read several accounts of the debate over the afghan surge within the executive branch and this account by Gate's doesn't seem like news to me, Obama got played.
I think the rockstar generals have been around a long time and survived several presidents and get a little cocky until some of them start getting fired.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. The escalation of that lost war is why I didn't vote for him.