I don't know about you... but I DO NOT want Gates to stay on.....

[liberalitch]

I want a sec. of Defense who did not think the war in Iraq was a good idea.... let's start with THAT premise. Who in the hell is suggesting that POTUS Obama keep Gates? Republicans? The same people who frowned on the selection of Emmanuel? who do they want him to pick? "Oh, you can be president just don't put people in who would forward your program.... put people in who would forward ours." Are they stupid?

[tkayj]

1. I don't think Obama would let the Repubs tell him

who to put on his Cabinet. It seems that Gates would be temporary, if anything, until Obama can truly get up to speed with the subtleties of Iraq. I would imagine that he might place someone in his Administration who will be phased in as Gates is phased out. Obama's no idiot. He won't use Gates unless it somehow serves his purpose.

[Captain Hilts]

2. Gates is doing a very good job in a very difficult position. The troops will appreciate...

the continuity.

Keep him.

We don't have to like the Sec. of Defense. it's not like he's attorney general.

[shadowknows69]

3. I second that

Obama needs to clean house to an extent. He can still have his bi-partisan cabinet if he must but let's make it new faces and new ideas, sprinkled with some DC veterans but not overwhelmed by them.

[bunkerbuster1]

4. I'm more like "Obama should feel free to fire him if he wants..."

If Obama thinks the continuity would be good for awhile, I'll support his decision to keep Gates.

[secondwind]

5. I would keep him........I don't think he was in favor of the Bush policies

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

6. It's Actually A Very Smart Move.

Not only does it bring many together as he needs to do early, but from a strategical sense it makes perfect sense.

He would never choose to keep Gates on permanently. But Gates knows more than anybody as to the situation right now and for Obama to use that to his advantage and be able to have such a wealth of information to him available in order to forge policy, is just plain logical. Obama makes the rules, not Gates. There is a definite logical and sound strategy in keeping Gates on for a while until the situation is firmly under control by new leadership. But Gates will not be under the hand of a tyrant anymore, but instead under the hand of a great and decent man. Huge difference.

I'm 100% in support of Gates staying on for a while to help Obama, if Obama ends up choosing such a route. It makes perfect sense actually.