"He was guilty of merely not telling people what was going on.."

[Skidmore]

Sez Peter Spiegel of the LA Times on WJ now in reference to Gate and is role in Iran-Contra. Well, that seems to me to be a very serious ethical issue. To be aware of a serious crime and just stand by and not say a word is contributing to the crime.

I have a real problem with this slight of hand that is going on today. Dems are going to allow the replacement of Rummy with Rummy-lite today just to get it off the table. BTW, Spiegel also referred to Gates as having had a managerial style similar to that of Rummy in the past and of trying to force his ideological views on the work product of the CIA.

[Donnachaidh]

1. GMA was also doing the slight of word cleanup on Gates' record

So much for *liberal media* :sarcasm:

[KoKo]

2. We have to hope that Dems get something in return for confirming Gates.

And, given Dems are now in charge it would seem that they could do this if they have to confirm him. Since Presidents are allowed to have their choice it's hard to break with that custom...but given Rummy's Dictatorship, we have to hope our Dems have learned that if Gates in confirmed he needs to know he's on a "short leash." :shrug:

[spanone]

6. Democrats are NOT in charge until January.

[BR_Parkway]

7. No, but they could filibuster him and dare Frist to go Nuclear - it

would be some hilarious political theater

[lonestarnot]

8. Yes they could.

[Captain Hilts]

3. Lawrence Walsh said Gates was pretty clean on Iran-Contra. nt

[MannyGoldstein]

4. 'Pretty Clean'?

Oh good.

[Captain Hilts]

5. Actually, he said 'clean' but I have my doubts about other issues with Gates.

The way he made the analyst gin up the Soviets had JPII shot stuff.

[H2O Man]

9. I don't think so.

DUers can read his report, and they will see he did not say Gates was "pretty clean." Not even close.

http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/walsh/chap_16.htm



(In part) Conclusion


Independent Counsel found insufficient evidence to warrant charging Robert Gates with a crime for his role in the Iran/contra affair. Like those of many other Iran/contra figures, the statements of Gates often seemed scripted and less than candid. Nevertheless, given the complex nature of the activities and Gates's apparent lack of direct participation, a jury could find the evidence left a reasonable doubt that Gates either obstructed official inquiries or that his two demonstrably incorrect statements were deliberate

[GreenZoneLT]

10. I don't have a problem with "less than candid"

Considering that much of Iran-Contra was a foreign policy dispute dressed up in criminal clothing, I'd put Gates' scripted testimony in the same "eh" pile with Bill Clinton's parsing of the meaning of "is." You don't have a moral obligation to make a prosecutor's case for him.

[H2O Man]

11. Right.

Very insightful. And here I thought that the Iran-Contra scandals were more serious than Clinton's sex life. Thanks for clearing that up.

[Skidmore]

12. You do have a moral obligaton to tell the truth.

[Captain Hilts]

14. Walsh made this statement recently. nt

[magellan]

15. Unbelievable (nt)

[EFerrari]

13. And he would be incorrect.

This beauty helped obstruct the investigation.