The Robert Gates Nomination

[Lemon law]

As a post election bombshell---GWB---announced he will nominate Robert Gates to replace
the fired Donald Rumsfeld.

But frankly I don't know all that much about Robert Gates. But am somewhat disturbed by his Iran Contra CIA past. I also have done some digging---and find some charges that Robert Gates, in the past has been accused of politising intelligence.---which is the last thing needed now.

I certainly have been in the anyone is better than Rumsfeld camp---but would like to see the various takes on how good a choice Robert Gates is? And will he be a slam dunk to win Senate approval?---in either the lame duck session---or failing that---when he faces a more hostile Senate under democratic rule?

 

[techs]

I nominate this guy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinseki

Eric Shinseki
General Eric Ken Shinseki served as the 34th Chief of Staff of the United States Army (1999 - 2003). He is the first Asian American four-star general in U.S. history, and the first to lead one of the four military services. During his tenure, he initiated an innovative but controversial plan to make the Army more strategically deployable and mobile in urban terrain by creating Stryker Interim-Force Brigade Combat Teams. His long-term initiative was called Objective Force and the main long-term weapons program he pushed was the Future Combat Systems.

He is famous for his remarks to the Senate Armed Services committee before the war in Iraq in which he said "something in the order of several hundred thousand soldiers" would probably be required for post-war Iraq. Secretaries Donald Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz publicly disagreed with his estimate.

General Shinseki was appointed to the rank of general before assuming duties as the Commanding General, United States Army Europe; Commander, Allied Land Forces Central Europe; and Commander, NATO Stabilization Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina


Here's a guy who was actually RIGHT about Iraq. Plus he led the American efforts in Bosnia-Herzegovina where NOT ONE U.S. SOLDIER WAS KILLED.

 

[Lemon law]

While I agree the Shinseki would be better---the point is the decider has decided on Robert Gates----so I now invoke my right as OP to pout---and ask that we discuss Gates.

And if any want any other choice---job one for them is and remains seeing Gates is rejected---making another choice possible.

So if possible---can we please discuss Robert Gates.

 

[Craig234]

He looks like yet another of the 'crony' crowd who are happy to do wrong and keep quiet.

Bush seems determind to appoint the very worst of our nation, the rogues' gallery of republican war criminals and other wrongdoers - Kissinger, Abrams, Negroponte et al.


Unfortunately, the democrats may not fight this guy.

 

[marvdmartian]

Yeah, but honestly, what's it going to take to satisfy and make happy the Democratic leadership?? An openly gay, muslim, female minority who's willing to hold hands with Hillary Clinton while they all sing Kumbaya??
Let's face it. Bush is going to nominate whoever he wants in the position. If the congress doesn't like that person, they'll tear him up during repeated congressional "hearings" (interviews), til either he satisfies them with his answers, or Bush pulls the nomination and goes to crony #2. And then on, and then on. You can pout all you want, you can kick and scream, it's the process that's been going on umpteen decades now, and they're never going to find anything they like better. Let's face it, the Democrats really don't care who W nominates, since they'll all get to shine in front of the tv cameras, while they show the world how politically tough they can be. It's a 3-ring circus, and it will never, EVER change!

That being said, I'd like to see someone like Colin Powell or better yet, "Stormin" Norman Schwarzkopf get the nomination. They, at least, understand the situation over there, and would know what it's going to take to make some sense out of it. And for those that have been screaming for us to leave Iraq, do yourself a favor......don't hold your breath. Even if a Democrat makes it to the white house after the '08 elections, I predict that person will be nearly 1/2 way through their first (perhaps only) tour before we're outta there.