Gates, who served from 2006 to 2011 under obama and his republican predecessor, george w. Memoirs of a secretary at war, that president obamas critics havent been saying about his foreign policy and war leadership for a long time. The white house is bristling over former defense secretary robert gates new memoir accusing president barack obama of showing too little enthusiasm for the u. Stanley mcchrystals refusal to fight for his job as coalition commander in afghanistan. Watch kimberly dvoraks san diego 6 news segment link here. Memoirs of a secretary at war made waves around washington, d. Gates writes that, even after obama agreed on a troop hike very close to the generals proposal, it was a big job for himthe wartime secretary of defenseto clamp down on their. During an interview on face the nation, host margaret brennan asked former defense secretary robert gates about a particular quote in his memoir book, in which he spoke positively of joe biden as an individual, however, he then went on to say that when it comes to foreign policy and national securit. President obama lost faith in afghanistan mission, cant. Gates was a truly historic secretary of defenseprecisely because he did get so. Ex defense secretary gates questioned obamas afghanistan. He said that the nato counterinsurgency in southern afghanistan.
Gates, widely considered the best defense secretary of the postworld war ii era, seems to have been driven by a desire to sort through all of the anger, frustration, sadness and guilt that he. As larry korb, a former assistant secretary of defense in the reagan. No civilian in washington was closer to the wars in iraq and afghanistan than. Gates was a truly historic secretary of defenseprecisely because he did get so much done. In a new memoir, former defense secretary robert gates unleashes harsh. Memoirs of a secretary at war in the washington post on tuesday. Former secretary of defense bob gates talked to stars and stripes on thursday about his new book, duty. James mattis, the marine corps generalturned secretary of defense, is known for many things, including his prolific reading list. With iraq in a profound downward spiral and many believing that afghanistan could be next, the legacy of robert m. Fighting the wars in iraq and afghanistan were certainly a priority. Transcript of former defense secretary robert gates unedited interview with morning editions steve inskeep on jan.
A retired united states marine corps general, mattis served in the persian gulf war, the war in afghanistan, and the iraq war mattis was commissioned in the marine corps through. Gates, who is the only person to have served as defence secretary in both a democratic and a republican administration, contrasts the attitudes of his two former bosses towards the military in. By early 2011, writes former defense secretary robert gates, he had concluded that president obama doesnt believe in his own afghanistan strategy, and doesnt consider the war to be his. Gates book stirs debate on bidens foreign policy creds. Memoirs of a secretary at war, robert gates says the president. Memoirs of a secretary at war ndu press national defense. Defense secretary gates spoke to reporters about military operations in afghanistan. Former secretary of defense robert gates isnt saying anything in his new book, duty. Joint force observations of retrograde operations from afghanistan. Robert gates new book is starting to leak out, and it may give president obama and his aides some heartburn. Former defense secretary gates tellall book blasts obama. Secretary of defense from december 2006 to july 2011. Robert gates, former defense secretary, offers harsh critique of. Former defense secretary robert gates is venting his.
Bob gates defended his new book sunday, after some pundits blasted the former defense secretary for criticizing a sitting president and an administration in which he recently served. Gates, who served so influentially as secretary of defense during the crucial years 20072011, deserves critical examination. James norman mattis born september 8, 1950 is a retired united states marine general and former government official who served as the 26th united states secretary of defense from january 2017 through january 2019. Gates book emphasizes the ways more than the whys of. Memoirs of a secretary at war, includes passages that criticize obama. Robert gates ran the department of defense during the wars in iraq and afghanistan.
The place to start is gates recently published book, duty. If you read only one book by a washington insider this year, make it this one. The former defense secretary says that obama eventually lost faith in the troop. Former defense secretary robert gates claims in his book that president obama did not really believe in the war in afghanistan even while agreeing to the troop surge. Though the book simmers with disappointment in obama, it reflects. Not because the former defense secretary has written a book ripping barack obama for his handling of the war in afghanistan. Memoirs of a secretary of war, by former defense secretary robert gates is seen in washington, wednesday, jan.
Former defense secretary says president obama had no. On afghanistan, obama accepted large parts of gatess compromise. Former defense secretary gates blasts obama in new book. By the end of this year we will have completed combat operations in afghanistan, president obama said monday in his first public comment on gates book. Gates stands by statement that biden has been wrong on. Bob gates provides an excellent look at the politics and personal stresses of being secretary of defense. No civilian in washington was closer to the wars in iraq and afghanistan than gates. To judge from the pages of his book, many of his expressions of outrage were indeed motivated by selfserving bureaucrats or members of congress who. In his memoir, which arrived at the white house on tuesday evening, gates states obama doesnt believe in his own strategy in afghanistan. Lawmakers question timing of robert gates memoir cbs news. Obamas former defense secretary gives him hell over. Thus, whether intended or not, duty establishes gatess ownership of the iraq war and, really, the afghan war, too. Robert gates, president obamas exsecretary of defense, contends in a new book that obama backed our soldiers in afghanistan but lost faith in their mission despite having ordered an infusion.
Former defense secretary robert gates tackles white house. Typically a reserved and quiet leader, former secretary of defense robert gates made. 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. Memoirs of a secretary at war, and ongoing national security challenges. Because gates believed that his tenure as secretary would be judged almost entirely by. Gates served as secretary of defense from 2006 to 2011. In an interview with the seattle times, former defense secretary robert gates shares his views on the afghanistan war policies of presidents past and present and gives a different take on the. Memoirs of a secretary at war, served under every president since nixon, save bill clinton.
He served as defense secretary under presidents obama and george. Gates, who served as pentagon chief from 2006 to 2011 under obama and his republican predecessor, george w. Former defense secretary robert gates is still puzzled by retired army gen. In duty, recently retired defense secretary robert gates gives readers an inside look at some of the most. 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. Secretary gates talked to reporters and answered questions after attending a twoday meeting in brussels of nato defense ministers. Exdefense secretary gates takes aim at obama in new book. No doubt, some of the key players during gates tenure as secretary, dec. 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 concluded the president doesnt believe in his own strategy, and doesnt consider the war to be his.
Instead of carrying book bags they are carrying assault rifles. In an interview with cbss sunday morning, gates said the partisan culture of washington was quick to focus on the negative statements in the book, but. Gates, durham, north carolina, wednesday, september 29, 2010. President barack obama lacked belief in his administrations policy toward the war in afghanistan and was skeptical it would even succeed, his former defense secretary, robert gates, writes. Jan 14, 2014 last week the white house was forced to defend its position on the afghanistan war after a former pentagon boss leveled commitment to the surge allegations against president obama. The washington posts bob woodward reports gates upcoming book, duty. Washington cnn former defense secretary robert gates criticism of his former boss president barack obama on afghanistan doesnt align with the commanderinchiefs views, the white house said wednesday. The release of former secretary of defense robert m. For that matter, simple observation reveals the hideous messes in afghanistan and iraq, making it clear this president has no real strategy for either.