Is Keeping the Man who Managed the Last Stages of George Bush's War a Wise Decision?

[kennetha]

Okay, it's not like keeping Donald Rumsfeld, obviously. But I'm not sure what to make of Obama's apparent decision to keep Gates on board. What do you think?

[Skittles]

1. it fucking stinks

[BeFree]

10. It is a great opportunity

.... for all the Obama bashers. Rail away at Gates all you want, you'll get no heat from any of us. Plus maybe you can reform the dod in the process.

See it as one pick of Obama's that no one could possibly be happy with and if you have any effect at all it will be good for us anti-war peacenik original 10%ers.

[Skittles]

23. wtf??

you make no fucking sense

[elleng]

2. LOTS of dems etc.

have been pleased with his attitudes and the way he's handled things.

[MrSlayer]

3. Gates will only be there for a short time.

Wes Clark will be eligible for the job in 2010.

[JVS]

4. If the goal is to pull out quickly, it helps to have someone who knows the situation very well.

If the guy doesn't cooperate, it's easy to give him the old heave-ho

[meowomon]

5. Maybe he told Obama something we arent privy to.

I support Obama's choices until otherwise proven wrong. Don't expect things to magically change on January 20th. If you push a panicked beast into a corner it will fight back and tear everything apart. Better to prod the GOP along and offer some rewards to tame them. We don't want this coup to come back and bite us in the ass. Those rethuglicans are ruthless big money bastards who think they have their own Jihad for Jesus.

Progress is a succession of ebb and flow to really change the hearts and minds of people. The bickering must stop or this country as we know it will no longer exist. I don't know about you, but I am not really ready for a turbulent economic ride. I am too old and tired for revolution.

[Radical Activist]

6. Actually, these last stages are the only thing the Bush admin has done almost right.

Violence is down and they're already preparing to bring down troop levels.

[BlooInBloo]

7. It depends almost entirely on what Obama's specific and detailed plans are...

And since he hasn't briefed me on them, I'm not in a position to say.

Unless, of course, I just wanted to make shit up.


EDIT: Would *I* keep him? Almost certainly not. That is of course because he would have no place in my plans. Well, not as a Cabinet member at any rate. So what do we conclude from this? That Obama's plan is different from what mine would be in my imagination. What is the street value of that conclusion? EXACTLY FUCKING SQUAT.

[killbotfactory]

8. It depends on how well he follows orders

If he doesn't follow Obama's orders in a way that is acceptable, he should be replaced.

[Johonny]

22. IDK

The one major problem even if he follows Obama is that many of the DOD staff is left over from Rummy. Basically Obama by taking Gates has taken part of the team that brought us Iraq, torture and the lot. It represents less than a complete cleaning of a department that probably could use it.

[Demeter]

9. KEEPING THE WAR IS A BAD DECISION!

Any of the wars, actually. Just pull out and be done with it.

[polichick]

11. I hope it's about strategy - this guy doesn't have to be brought up to speed...

...about what's going on and can facilitate an efficient endgame.

[Vinca]

12. I'm not as negative about Gates as most people. He's not a stupid

man and I don't think he'll be a rogue operator. In fact, I've been wondering if he wasn't lobbying via the back channels to stay on in order to reverse some of what's been done. After watching him genuinely tear up during a speech about veterans, I'm betting his conscience is getting the better of him. I've got a feeling he wants to be around to end the war.

[Shiver]

13. Like every other Cabinet post...

...the Secretary of Defense serves at the pleasure of the President. If he doesn't go with the agenda, he can be replaced.

Like with all of his picks, I'm going to wait and see. I'm rather skeptical that this one will turn out well, but Gates does know the current situation. I do hope that when Wes Clark becomes eligible for the post in 2010, Gates "offers" to leave...

[kennetha]

14. My worry is that the Bushies think the Iraq war is all but won

If Gates shares that view, he'll try to "educate" President elect Obama and his team.

[DevonRex]

15. One way to find out the truth of what has happened in the Bush administration is to keep

some Bush appointees on board for a while. I can see Bush claiming executive priviledge when any of his administration is questioned. If they're working for Obama and Obama wants to know what happened, they can hardly say no. And Bush can't tell them to shut up and keep the matter of executive priviledge in the courts forever.

And I think Gates is a team player, no matter whose team is in office. He has done a pretty good job with what he had to work with. And there's something to be said for continuity.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

16. Depends how long he stays for.

Keeping him on for a little while to provide continuity while everyone else changes might well be wise.

Keeping him on long-term probably wouldn't be, although I don't know for sure.

[amitta]

17. why not keep Cheney on too

or Condi?
since they are selfless servants who just follow orders of any president right?
its bullshit.

[bdamomma]

18. Gates could of always said NO to staying on

and he didn't, I feel as though he won't serve the whole year.

[bunnies]

19. Wes Clark seems to think its a good idea...

I think I'll trust his judgment.

[happychatter]

20. you beat me to the punch

you... you

:toast:

[bunnies]

21. lol. Great minds and all.

:toast: