Adviser: Gates Could Stay At Pentagon If Obama Wins

WASHINGTON — A senior adviser to Sen. Barack Obama said Thursday that the Democrat might see Defense Secretary Robert Gates as a candidate to remain at the Pentagon if Obama wins the White House.

Without explicitly endorsing Gates for the job or predicting Obama's selection, Richard Danzig told reporters that Gates has exhibited leadership qualities that an Obama administration would value.

Danzig, who served as Navy secretary in the Clinton administration and is a senior national security adviser to the Obama campaign, cited Gates' pragmatic approach and his advocacy for closing the Guantanamo Bay prison for terror suspects. He said Gates has been a good defense secretary.

"He'd be an even better one in an Obama administration," Danzig said. "Why do I think that? Because many of the kinds of efforts he's made are in tune with what we are trying to do."

Danzig mentioned Gates' push to increase U.S. forces in Afghanistan and to increase greatly the size of the Afghan national army. "These are things that Sen. Obama agrees with and I agree with."

Danzig added that he has not discussed any individual candidates for defense secretary with Obama.

"These decisions are for later," he said.

Danzig himself is often mentioned as a possible Obama choice for defense secretary.

Gates has drawn bipartisan praise for his work at the Pentagon, marked by better relations with the Congress and a perception of holding the military services more accountable for missteps.

Gates, who took over at the Pentagon in December 2006 after Donald H. Rumsfeld resigned, has said repeatedly that he looks forward to retiring from public service in January and has no intention of remaining in Washington. Gates, 65, is a former CIA director and served in the White House under Democratic as well as Republican presidents.

Earlier this week, Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said Gates has not changed his view on retiring.

"The circumstances under which he will stay on are inconceivable to him," Morrell said. "But he learned long ago never to say never. And I think that's still operative today."

Danzig also said he believes it would be smart for Obama, if elected, to consider people like Gates who have served in Republican administrations.

"I personally believe that an administration that took advantage of some of the skills of people who are Republicans, or independents as well, would be a stronger administration," he said. "That doesn't translate to a prediction about Secretary Gates."

Comments

[wallygator]

03:58 PM on 10/02/2008

The more things change the more they stay the same? Just give Gates a Casio watch and let him go spend more time with his family.

[jayburd]

03:17 PM on 10/02/2008

I totally agree. Bob Gates is the only good apple left in that barrel. He would be an asset to Obama.

[realpolitic]

02:24 PM on 10/02/2008

I think Gates is doing a fine job. It is refreshing to have some honesty coming from the Defense Department. A new calm has settled over the Defense Department since Rumfield's ouster and uniformed personnel seem more listened to.

[newshawk14]

02:19 PM on 10/02/2008

I have a few doubts about keeping Gates on. He was a member of the team B approach at the
CIA, which was aimed at giving the president the information he wanted to hear, rather than
the product produced by the expert analysts. I'd like to see someone of the caliber of William J.
Perry appointed to the position.
http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/secdef_histories/

[snruB]

02:17 PM on 10/02/2008

Gates is fantastic, and I'm a Democrat

[jorge4u]

02:06 PM on 10/02/2008

I like Gates. He seems to have a lot of common sense and highly by both sides of the aisle.

[AurigaRa]

02:04 PM on 10/02/2008

Gates has fought against Cheney's parallel chain of command in the AF.
Good for Obama? I don't know but we need to reward those who actually stand up to these criminals.

[wordvarc]

02:02 PM on 10/02/2008

Please don't "jump the gun."

The rovian doubletalking Palin-McSame cmpaign has lots of 'sleaze up their sleeves.'

How low will they go?

[Opt1musPr1me]

01:31 PM on 10/02/2008

Lets vote the man into office before we start debating who would best to run the pentagon. Personally I think I am the best choice for the job. I just wanted to put that out there. What better than an outsider to run the world's kickass armed forces? ANY ENDORSEMENTS?

[JohnFromCensornati]

01:04 PM on 10/02/2008

What the he// is with these people? Surely they could find a non-Republican that "has exhibited leadership qualities that an Obama administration would value." We've had enough of the GOP!

[Spesabsquemetu]

02:10 PM on 10/02/2008

I like Sec. Gates, who seems to me to be a man of integrity.

Why would integrity frighten you?

[Agnim]

12:54 PM on 10/02/2008

If a Republi-con Sec of Defense, then let it be Haggle. lol

[jeanrenoir]

12:51 PM on 10/02/2008

Excellent idea. Gates is a first-rate choice, respected by everyone in DC for good reason. The perfect opening move for a bi-partisan government for Obama, and a new politics for America.

[vippy]

12:54 PM on 10/02/2008

I favor Wesley Clark. Gates has a horrible past.

[RoveRoveRoveYourBoat]

01:24 PM on 10/02/2008

...gates for sec/defence (war). Wes Clark as Cabinet Level Secretary of PEACE!

[drkazmd65]

12:46 PM on 10/02/2008

Obama could certainly do worse that Gates in that position. He as done a relatively decent job under crappy circumstances DESPITE the presence of an incompetent boss.

There is something to be said for institutional memory - Gates would bring that to the table, and as long as he is willing to work in Obama's framework 'at the pleasure' of his President, it might work.

Obama is going to have a lot on his plate come January. Most of it to do with the economy and patching up things with the EU, and our old allies. If he could leave the basic functioning of the Pentagon intact and running, he could focus on the priorities.

[mommadona]

12:29 PM on 10/02/2008

Doubt it.

[barackobama4prez]

12:18 PM on 10/02/2008

Interesting. I do know that Gates seems to be one of the only peeps (also Colin and Condi) who know wtf they are doing militarily.

[Smirk]

12:31 PM on 10/02/2008

Yes, he seems to have a better grasp of reality and--as far as I know--isn't hyper partisan. I'm not surprised that Senator Obama would ask him to stay a while to smooth the transition.