Former spy chief takes over Pentagon [View All]

[DoYouEverWonder]

Dec 18, 2006

WASHINGTON - Robert Gates assumed the helm at the Pentagon on Monday, saying Iraq is his top priority and warning that failure there would be a "calamity" that would haunt the United States for many years.

"All of us want to find a way to bring America's sons and daughters home again," Gates said after taking the oath of office as defense secretary from Vice President
Dick Cheney at a Pentagon ceremony. "But as the president has made clear, we simply cannot afford to fail in the Middle East. Failure in Iraq at this juncture would be a calamity that would haunt our nation, impair our credibility, and endanger Americans for decades to come."

Gates said he intends to travel to Iraq soon to hear the views of U.S. commanders on how to improve the situation, "unvarnished and straight from the shoulder." The remarks seemed to contrast with critics' complaints that the man he replaced, Donald H. Rumsfeld, did not listen enough to the advice of the military's top officers.

President Bush called Gates, 63, "the right man" for the multiple challenges the face in Iraq and in the global war on terrorism.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061218/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/gatesFormer spy chief takes over Pentagon


More like the right man to cover up Bush's lies and crimes.