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November 26, 2008 at 11:23:35
Big Mistake: Bob Gates at Defense by Brent Budowsky Page 1 of 1 page(s) |
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Let’s revisit the Reagan years. At the time, I was working for the House Democratic leadership and when Reagan was meeting with Gorbachev, I and some other Democrats were working with some on the Reagan side on the matter of historic negotiations with the Soviets. Bob Gates, who originally was CIA director, was against this. He even resisted the idea that Gorbachev was different while Reagan, correctly, saw the monumental opportunity and made the most of it, whatever we think of other Reagan policies.
At one of the defining moments in history, Bob Gates was horrendously wrong and his judgment, knowledge and advice was horrendously bad. If the prelude to the Iraq war was a major failure of intelligence, Gates's horrendously bad judgment about U.S.-Soviet affairs, at the height of the Cold War, at the height of dangers of nuclear extermination, and at the height of Reagan's initiatives with Gorbachev, was unspeakably wrong and would have been an unspeakable disaster had Reagan followed his horrendously bad advice.
The Iraq war and the advent of the age of 9/11 were extreme failures of the national security establishment of both parties. You can read the papers today and the rejoicing throughout the national security establishment, virtually all of whom were wrong about Iraq, is palpable.
Gen. James Jones is five-star and first-rate. He will be outstanding. The rest of the team, however, appears to continue the status quo ante of the establishment that was wrong about Iraq and largely wrong about Iran. The president-elect will be surrounded by people who supported the Iraq war and opposed high-level diplomacy with Iran and went along with the tragic and mistaken consensus that has done so much damage during the Bush years.
I fear this presages a longer American military commitment in Iraq than was discussed during the campaign. What is needed is a premise of a careful, phased withdrawal from Iraq, but what I fear is a premise to stay as long as possible, as strong as possible. I hope I am wrong.
It is more than unfortunate that leaders of great experience and judgment, with a far stronger record of being right, such as Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) and former Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Ga.), were passed over for Bob Gates.
It is unfortunate that the Democratic Party will appear too weak to appoint one of its own as secretary of Defense, such as Sam Nunn, who was right about Iraq from the start and would have been one of the most qualified individuals to have ever served as secretary of Defense. It is unfortunate that if Nunn were not chosen, the president-elect did not name Chuck Hagel, who was a rock of courage, conviction and correctness as a dissenting Republican.
It is unfortunate that on an issue so momentous as who runs the Pentagon at a time of war, the views that were stated in the campaign, and supported so deeply by the base of the Democratic Party and the new voters and small donors who were the heart of the Obama campaign, are sacrificed so quickly, for Bob Gates.
It appears the die is cast and the deal is done. Hopefully there is still hope for change but if not, I will wish the national security team well and do my modest part to help them succeed.
However, I think this is wrong, and I must dissent.
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| 8 comments |
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Unfathomable
Two unfathomables, actually. The first: that Obama would make this horrendous choice, or non-choice. Is there a reason for it? None that is apparent. The second: that the Blogosphere, and liberal Democrats(an oxymoron?), and sane people everywhere, aren't screaming and hollering and jumping up and down. We are all, evidently, transfixed by what seems to be the myth of upcoming Change. We are all swallowing the snake oil . . . . by alan17b0 (15 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 52 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 2:37:25 PM  (0+)
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Big Mistake: Bob Gates at Defense
What is going on? Obama's choice of Bob Gates is wacky. This is not the sign of a progressive leader nor a democratic party leader. Obama appears to be under the illusion that the leaders he has chosen will change their colours. There is no reason to believe this is the case. That being the case what is he doing? I would like to say God help America but considering what has happened over the last 8 years, I doubt God is on America's side. How could God be on America's side with fraud, lying, stealing, bombing, death, GM Food, Nano Technology, and many ofther dispicable things that America has given to the world in recent years. by Rolland Miller (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 227 comments [78 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 2:54:51 PM (0+)
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Nothing is permanent
Let's wait for January 21 to start discussing things. President-ELECT Obama is in a tough spot right now. There are still a number of things that can happen between now and January 20, and he has to be careful to send the signals that will convince the "powers that be" that it is still OK to leave office and let him take charge. Do you think he MISSED the threat of Martial Law that Paulson threw at the Congress to extort his 700 Billion? Do you think that threat has GONE AWAY, just because the money has? Until the day they are ushered out the back door, we are not safe from the criminal conspirators who currently (illegally) occupy the White House and Obama KNOWS this. Look for SLOW, CAREFUL, and PIECEMEAL change, with many compromises and kowtows to the powerful along the way. We got the lesser to two evils, and we should be glad for that little victory. by Charlie L (2 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 747 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 6:46:01 PM (0+)
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Reply: no real change
please read my comments below. thank you by rmcnnlly (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 7 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 8:24:42 PM (0+)
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Reply: Charlie, No One Can Keep the Balls in the Air For Long
Sir-- it appears you appreciate the "art" of juggling. That said, you can only keep the balls in the air for so long. Then gravity takes over. The Pres-Elect is taking on-board individuals with a recorded history of unethical acts. This is definitely a Red Flag to most watching. A tidal wave of fraud and economic thievery is seen to be washing over our nation. No man can stop it -- it will take a nation of backbone to survive it. I believe your faith is futile and a more common-sense understanding is required. A harder stance must be taken. by boomerang (0 articles, 7 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 557 comments [215 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 8:53:03 PM (0+)
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More of the same..............more CFR Lackeys
America Wake Up! This election is NOT about change. There is no difference between an Obama, Bush or Clinton Admin. Why? Because all the people are selected mostly from the Council of Foreign Relations membership list or the Trilateral Commission. This organization is made up of people who are "invited" to join. You can't get in, unless you are invited. It's a closed club, that the elite picks for command and control. The Obama admin is just like a corporation that changes its name, but the same board members are still there. These organizations along with non-profit foundations need to be thoroughly investigated by congress. But alas, that will never happened, because many members of Congress are aligned with them , members of the same organization or financial benificiaries of them. Then the un-holy trio of industry, military and government re-circulate them back and forth. The system is a "fast track" to promotion, looting of the taxpayer and continual control and the fulfillment of the consolidation of their power and dismantling of our Republic. Who can we trust for moral leadership of what is really going on? Who are our trusted patriots anymore? Right now the only ones to be trusted are Congressman Ron Paul, Congresswoman Michelle Bachman and retired CIA Bin Laden chief, Michael Scheuer and a cadre of others who are outside the system of command, control and looting. Then there are the grassroots...who have been trying to break down the doors of the bastions of anti-republican attitudes in the two party system. So far the elite has contained them, stalled them and they have been neutralized. But the grassroots is re-organizing and ready for strategic battle again to regain control of our Republic before they destroy our prosperity and soverignty while they loot us along the way! Wake Up America!!!! by rmcnnlly (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 7 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 8:21:28 PM (0+)
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Take the Challenge and boldly ask the question.
Ask the question...why is this government continually run by a closed club of self-serving elitists? Go ahead.........I dare you!!!! Take the challenge. Google every key member of the Obama, Bush and Clinton administrations as to their membership in the Council on Foreign Relations or the Trilateral Commission and even membership of the Bilderbergers. I don't want to hear any worn out arguments of "conspiracy theory" blather. Start asking some serious questions about this! Formulate your own questions and start investigating. I was once a very strong skeptic. But the more I investigated, the more appalled I got! by rmcnnlly (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 7 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 8:30:46 PM (0+)
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REALITY HURTS
Obama is too smart not to know what he is doing. Obviously, he intends to let his appointees over-ride him. He will exchange one war for another. Reality hurts, but lets not run blind. by emily horswill (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 79 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, Nov 30, 2008 at 1:33:21 AM (0+)
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