US Features

PROFILE: Gates to keep steady defence hand during Obama transition

Dec 1, 2008, 20:04 GMT

Washington - For his foreign and security agenda, president-elect Barack Obama is tapping tried and true figures to lead the way. The decision announced Monday in Chicago to leave Defence Secretary Robert Gates, 65, in place as head of the Pentagon further seals Obama's intention for a reassuring, seamless transition when he takes office on January 20. Gates has played a bridging role since Republican President George W Bush named him to replace the polarizing defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld just days after Republicans suffered defeat in the November 2006 congressional elections. Growing frustration over the war in Iraq fuelled the 2006 takeover of Congress by opposition Democrats, and Gates soon came to gain commendations for his handling of the Pentagon as he oversaw the troop buildup in Iraq which helped produce sharp reductions in violence. He holds the respect of the military brass. In nominating Gates, Obama said he had 'restored accountability' to the office of defence secretary, won the confidence of military commanders and 'earned the respect of members of Congress on both sides of the aisle for his pragmatism and competence.' 'He knows that we need a sustainable national security strategy. And that includes a bipartisan consensus at home,' Obama said. Gates has served various roles and six presidents of both political parties during 27 years in Washington, including head of the CIA and as top White House security advisor to former president George HW Bush, father of the current president, for the US-led 1990 effort that ousted Iraq from Kuwait. At the announcement in Chicago, Gates said he had a 'profound sense of personal responsibility' to men and women in the US uniform and their families. Gates said he was 'mindful that we are engaged in two wars and face other serious challenges at home and around the world' and that he had no choice but to accept Obama's call for continued service.

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The RepublicansDec 1st, 2008 - 20:30:15

are looking for volunteers to stand up and give Bush and Mrs. Bush an ovation the day he departs office.

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eddieDec 1st, 2008 - 20:44:41

i can come and moon them just let me know .

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SP4:Hey EddieDec 3rd, 2008 - 00:41:18

..just show them your face...I can assure you they won't know the difference...

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tonny from belgiumDec 6th, 2008 - 16:27:41

Indeed,when he looks into the mirror he sees the same thing...

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SP4: 'Heloo?'Dec 6th, 2008 - 18:39:55

'well helloo Baaaaraack...congrats all arooound...yeees ah saw it on th' TV....ol Johnny.....ah knoow...beat im mahsef...good man but juuust couldn't git it...musta beeen all thit ass lickin with Olympia snooow...nooo nevah trahd it m'sef.....Nancy Pelosi maybah....kind skinny fer me anyways......no use crahin.....always nixt fer yeahs t' considah...weeeell..not fer ol Johnnah eh?...heh, heh, heh...'

'what?....Gates?...kinda figured ya giv im the heave ho ASAP thire Baaaraaack...mah wartahme conciliarai an all.....what?...ya want im ta stay?...Hillarah says so????...oh...that's hoow it is....waell haell, jes ask im....do ah think eell do it?...beats th sheeeit outa me......what?....ya want me ta ask im?....SUUURE!..afta all Baaraaaack, we'r heah t' hep!...heh, heh, heh......what?.....ya want im ta upsahze th troops in Afginistin?....hey...it's all yurs in two months Baaaraaack...I'm outa heah....nooo...ain't gooona doo it fer ya.....ya goonna hav t' step up boyh....ya saed ya were gooona end these wars an ya cin do it all ya want noow....what?..you wer jes kiddin?....waell...so was ah....nooo Baaaraack....aboout th war, not Gates....ya still gonna hav t court im....beats me if he don't lahke blacks...whats thit got t do with it?...yur Irish rahght? O'bama...rtahght?...hellooo...hellooo?'

'goddamn Irish...jes lahke thit Kennidy...stahts waaay t' earlee in th mornin...'

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