Wednesday, November 26, 2008

SECDEF Gates to be Retained

FOX News is reporting that Defense Secretary Robert Gates will keep the top Pentagon job for at least the first year of the Obama administration.

Gates has very strong support among Democrats and the President Elect's decision to keep him on follows speculation, encouraged before the election by Obama's aides, that Gates would stay on for an interim period. A registered independent, Gates has served various Republican administrations. President Bush nominated Gates to replace Donald Rumsfeld after the 2006 midterm elections, when the war in Iraq was descending into chaos and became a political liability for Republicans.

Gates will continue to preside over two U.S. wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan, that Bush launched as part of the larger war on terror. There are several issues on which Gates and Obama disagree, including missile defense. Gates supports placing a missile defense system in Europe, but Obama already has suggested that he won't sign off on it until the technology has been proven capable.

A formal announcement is expected immediately after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend as part of an unveiling of the new national security team, which is expected to include Sen. Hillary Clinton as secretary of state; Gen. Jim Jones as national security adviser, Admiral Dennis Blair as director of national intelligence and Susan Rice as U.S. ambassador to the UN.

Source: FOX News

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, all very well and good Lt.Col but what is Obama's stance on the Superhuman Registration Act?, Does he support the Fifty state initiative or will he close down Camp Hammond?

Major General Creedon said...

I'm just as upset that Colbert didn't win that election as I am about McCain not winning.

Bruce Russell said...

I wonder if Obama will "drink the kool-Aid" served up by his new NSA?

Major General Creedon said...

LOL. Obviously the Jim Jones, the perpetrator of the Jonestown mass suicide in 1978 is not Marine General James L. Jones, the former Commandant and SACEUR.

Interestingly enough, his name is on a list of potential appointees along with Jon Favreau as speechwriter - but it's not the famous director of Iron Man.

Similarly you are not an abstract painter and a professor of art in Kingston University, London. :)

Bruce Russell said...

Aren't I? ;)

Anonymous said...

Bruce, NOOOOO! That work is "Offa"l.