Were relevant defense secretary robert gates canceled the marine corps amphibious troop carrier and stopped the. As gates put it in a book excerpt published in the wall street. Robert gatess memoir of his time as secretary of defence under both george. Republican robert m gatess account of his years in the bush and obama. He ends his book by noting that i spent more years working in the white house than. Ex defense secretary gates takes aim at obama in new book. Former secretary of defense bob gates talked to stars and stripes about his new book. Gates stands by statement that biden has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy question.
Gates gets real on antimissiles, schwacks boost phase defense. Robert gates, who served as defense secretary for the obama administration, paused for a moment and said i dont know in an interview sunday when asked if he thinks former vp joe biden. In a speech to cadets at the united states military academy at west point, gatess message was clear. Secretary of defence robert gatess last battle bbc news. He was also an officer in the united states air force and worked for the cia before being appointed director of the agency. Gates s new memoir is the first describing the obama administrations policy deliberations written from inside the cabinet. I was executive secretary for two secretaries of defense, i worked closely with three others and when you read former defense secretary robert gates book. Gates served as secretary of defense from 2006 to 2011. Johns episcopal church across from the white house in washington. Gates was the 22nd united states secretary of defense. I was commissioned a second lieutenant in the army in 1968. News corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media. Transcript of former defense secretary robert gates unedited interview with morning editions steve inskeep on jan.
Bush and as secretary of defense 200611 in the administrations of presidents george w. As a child, he was involved in the boy scouts of america, eventually attaining the rank of eagle scout. Ashton baldwin carter born september 24, 1954 is an american public policy professor who served as the 25th secretary of defense from february 2015 to january 2017. Gates, a cold war veteran selected to remain as defense secretary, has won bipartisan praise for his pragmatism and handling of. Gates gives us a forthright, impassioned, sometimes conflicted account of his four and a half years as defense secretary in his fascinating new memoir duty, a book that is highly. That said, he also spent considerable time on iran, china, dont askdont tell, budget cuts, white house micromanagement, and congressional parochialism.
Former defense secretary gates blasts obama in new book us news. He served as secretary of defense under presidents george w. From the former secretary of defense, a strikingly candid, vividly written ac. Her majestys principal secretary of state for defence defence secretary is a senior official within her majestys government and head of the ministry of defence mod.
Former secretary of defense robert gates on his new book. President george w bush appointed him as replacement for donald rumsfeld at the end of 2006. Is former defense secretary robert gates doing his duty. The prepared text of secretary of defense robert gates speech to the american legion in milwaukee on tuesday, august 31, 2010. Bret baier of fox news described the book as a, scathing criticism of president obama, questioning the presidents leadership and commitment to the afghanistan and iraq wars. Secretary of defense from december 2006 to july 2011. He is three years older than i am and he is a graduate of william and mary college. President barack obamas first secretary of defense robert gates has written a bombshell book that says the president doubted his own mission in afghanistan and was skeptical if not outright convinced it. I was executive secretary for two secretaries at defense, i worked closely with three others and when you read former defense secretary robert gates book. Clinton email server really a concern eliza collins. Fighting the wars in iraq and afghanistan were certainly a priority. Former secretary of defense robert gates sits down with rita braver in his first television interview since the publication of his new book, duty. Robert michael gates was born in wichita, kansas on september 25, 1943. Gates has a long and distinguished career in national security affairs.
Listening to keith olbermann last night, youd think its 1987, and america doesnt have a clue how to do missile defense. The reinvention of robert gates by michael crowley, the new republic, november 9, 2009. Former secretary of defense robert gates joins me in hour three today to discuss his new book a passion for leadership, as well as the iran. Former secretary of defense robert gates comes to ou. Jan 29, 2017 former defense secretary robert gates said sunday it was a big mistake for president donald trump to exclude the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and the director of national. Defense secretary robert gates book duty, memoirs of a secretary at war are seen in fairfax, va. Gates told the committee he is confident president bush will listen to his ideas about forging a new war strategy. The former defense secretary says that obama eventually lost faith in the troop. Philip scott andrews the new york times cia director leon panetta soon will become secretary of defense, taking over washingtons largest and most powerful bureaucracy with a budget that amounts to nearly 60 percent of discretionary federal spending. Im going to come back to acquisition in a second, secretary gates, but you brought up north korea. Gates is a wellliked and respected figure in washington, and his critiques of obama are seen as damaging to the administrations foreign policy credentials. Gates, a cold war veteran selected to remain as defense secretary, has won bipartisan praise for his pragmatism and handling of the pentagon amid two.
Robert gates, who has served both george bush and barack obama, is finishing up his farewell tour. The washington posts bob woodward reports gates upcoming book, duty. Robert gates and why defense secretaries are grumpy stacks of former u. Former defense secretary robert gates levied a number of criticisms against his former obama administration colleague, joe biden, in an interview that aired sunday, even saying he didnt know if. I need to send an invitation letter for a meeting to the us secretary of defense. This isnt a complete history of the secretary of defense look at the dod web page for an excellent summary but rather a look at the highlights. Former defense secretary gates blasts obama in new book. Im talking with former secretary of defense, robert gates, whose brand new book, a pasion for leadership, is out, and hes on a book tour, and im very grateful for the time hes given us today to talk about this. Gates offers the ultimate insiders look at how leaders can transform large organizations and companies. The president wishes secretary gates well as he recovers from his recent injury, and discusses his book. Former secretary of defense robert gates on his new book a. Secretary of defense robert gates center for strategic. Former defense chief robert gates on wars and washington.
Bush and barack obama and delivers unsentimental assessments. Gates served obama as secretary of defence until july 2011. Its my pleasure to be with the american legion today. Et, 12014 cnn president barack obama, speaking for the first time since news outlets obtained copies of former defense secretary gates book, which was critical of the commander in chief, said monday that gates did an. Jun 10, 2011 few defence secretaries have been so widely praised as a wise and calm adviser. Memoirs of a secretary at war, includes passages that criticize obama.
Prior to dinner, gates will meet with ou students for an informal discussion. Understanding the new us defense policy through the speeches of robert m. Gates book stirs debate on bidens foreign policy creds. Former us defense secretary robert gates memoir is shocking. Defense secretary james mattis extraordinary reading habits. Robert gates, who served as defense secretary for the obama administration, paused for a moment and said i dont know in an interview sunday when asked if he thinks former vp joe biden would be a good president. May 19, 2016 robert gates thinks that hillary clintons email scandal is really a concern. Gates discusses his latest book a passion for leadership. Memoirs of a secretary at war is a nonfiction book written by robert m. Defense secretary mattis credits reading habit for.
Bombshell book by robert gates slams obama on afghanistan. I think he has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades, former defense secretary robert gates says of vice president joe biden in. Bob gates provides an excellent look at the politics and personal stresses of being secretary of defense. Memoirs of a secretary at war made waves around washington, d. He played a major role in escalating the united states involvement in. Obama and bushs former defense secretary says he doesnt. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Robert strange mcnamara june 9, 1916 july 6, 2009 was an american business executive and the eighth united states secretary of defense, serving from 1961 to 1968 under presidents john f. Secretary of defense robert gates talks about iraq, afghanistan and his job.
Brian finke from his earliest days as secretary of defense, robert gates kept a little countdown clock in his briefcase. From the former secretary of defense, a strikingly candid, vivid account of serving presidents george w. Politifact checking robert gates criticism of vice. Jan 07, 2014 former defense secretary gates blasts obama in new book. Gates stands by statement that biden has been wrong on. The us military services, as well as the elected and appointed civilians who send them to.
The ultimate insiders story of five presidents and how they won the cold war. After a brief experience as an analyst for the congressional office of. The office of the secretary of defense osd is responsible for policy development, planning, resource management and program evaluation. In his new book, which has nearly 600 pages of text, gates takes the reader inside the warroom deliberations of presidents george w. Obama didnt believe in his own strategy, and doesnt consider the war to be his, gates writes in the book. In a new memoir, former defense secretary robert gates unleashes harsh judgments about president obamas leadership and his commitment to the afghanistan war, writing that by early 2010 he had. Dec 06, 2006 robert gates confirmed as secretary of defense. The books muchpublicised attacks on obamas senior advisers do. Robert gates thinks joe biden hasnt stopped being wrong. After a career built on avoiding risk, the defense secretary is finally. Exdefense secretary gates takes aim at obama in new book npr. Gates joined the central intelligence agency in 1966.
Former defense secretary robert gates, in his upcoming memoir, has harsh words for president obamas leadership style and commitment to the afghanistan war accusing the president of losing. You should really enjoy reading about cabinet history before trying this book, but if you do, you wont be disappointed. Memoirs of a secretary at war, gates recalled fighting military leaders in 2007 to get more money to protect troops on the ground against roadmines. Bush but was retained for service by president barack obama. Robert gates, former defense secretary, offers harsh critique of.
Defense secretarydesignate james mattis arrives for church service at st. Gates was sworn in as the 22nd secretary of defense on dec. Former defense secretary robert gates is calling out joe bidens national security and foreign policy credibilility and says age would be problematic for both biden and rival sen. The title defence minister, minister for defense, minister of national defense, secretary of defense, secretary of state for defence or some similar variation, is assigned to the person in a cabinet position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. Gates served as secretary of defense under both president george w. Jun 23, 2011 defense secretary robert gates takes his seat to testify before the senate appropriations committee in washington, on june 15, 2011. Former defense secretary robert gates, in a book due out later this month, describes president obama as a man of personal integrity who nonetheless was skeptical of. Apr 23, 2008 secretary gates finely got on the airforceto take a bigger part in the war.
After working for six presidents in both the cia and the national security council, he was happily serving as. Transcript of defense secretary gatess speech on natos. Well, i make the point in the book that during most of my career, most of the people involved in at senior levels in the national security council and so on had considered although. Gates served for 26 years in the cia and the national security council. Jun 10, 2011 the transcript of secretary of defense robert gates s speech on the future of nato. The political universe is all a twitter over the former secretary of defense, robert gatess new book, duty. Memoirs of a secretary at war, robert gates says the president was unsure the afghan surge would work and was. Former defense secretary robert gates, in a book due out later this month, describes president obama as a man of personal integrity who nonetheless was skeptical of his administrations surge. Jan 12, 2014 the former defence secretary robert gates has said he does not regret anything that he wrote in his controversial new book and called the memoir an honest account in duty. In an interview aired sunday on cbs news face the nation, gates, 75. Osd includes the offices of top civilian defense decision.
Lessons on change and reform from fifty years of public service at the national archives on thursday, january 26, at 7 p. No doubt, some of the key players during gates tenure as secretary, dec. He treated the office of the presidency with respect. Duty it proclaims portentously, above a picture of the former us defence secretary staring out from the cover. Exdefense secretary gates takes aim at obama in new book. Gates began his career serving as an officer in the united states air force but was quickly recruited by the central intelligence agency. Secretary of defense from 2006 to 2011, will speak at a presidents associates dinner at the university of oklahoma on tuesday, oct. Robert gates, former secretary of defense for both the bush and obama administrations, ripped the president in his new memoir. Former defence secretary robert gates defends book as an. Forthright and unsparing, duty is gates s behindthescenes account of his nearly five years as a secretary of defense at war. Gates received a call from the white house, he thought hed long left washington politics behind. What is it like to work with secretary of defense robert gates. Secretary of defense robert gates spoke at a csis event about the need for increasing the capacity of americas civilian tools of statecraft and for better integrating them with the hard power of our military. During his tenure, he established a task force to set nuclear target priorities.
Gatess new memoir is the first describing the obama administrations policy deliberations written from inside the cabinet. Text of secretary of defense robert gates speech on august. Robert michael gates is an american statesman, scholar, intelligence analyst, and university president who served as the 22nd united states secretary of defense from 2006 to 2011. Jan 09, 2014 former us defense secretary robert gates memoir is shocking, but not about obama. Former defense secretary robert gates slams obamas. Memoirs of a secretary at war, is the most peculiar book of its kind that ive read in a long time, maybe ever. The defense department is working closely with the department of health and human services and state department to provide support in dealing with the coronavirus outbreak. April 10, 1906 march 25, 1983 was united states secretary of defense from 1959 to 1961 under president eisenhower. The office is a british cabinetlevel position, and has been held by ben wallace since july 2019. The release of former secretary of defense robert m.
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