Obama's Cabinet: Leaning Towards Keeping Gates, Advisers Say

WSJ:

The WSJ reports:

President-elect Barack Obama is leaning toward asking Defense Secretary Robert Gates to remain in his position for at least a year, according to two Obama advisers. A senior Pentagon official said Mr. Gates would likely accept the offer if it is made.

No final decision has been made, and Obama aides said other people are also under serious consideration for the defense post, one of the most highly coveted in any new cabinet. Several prominent Democrats, including former Clinton Navy Secretary Richard Danzig and former Clinton Deputy Secretary of Defense John Hamre, are also being considered.

A former Defense official told the Huffington Post last week that keeping Gates on is "the dumbest thing I've ever heard."

Read more about Obama's Cabinet here.

Read the whole story: WSJ

Comments

[politican]

Gates and bin Laden...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3340101/

[Pulemerci]

Will it be awkward if Obama appoints Robert Kennedy Jr. to the EPA after knowing that Bill Ayers dedicated his book "Prarie Fire" to Sirhan Sirhan?

[Hawka]

I'm amused at the ones who are disappointed on the matter, that they can't even take the time to think clearly and pragmatically because they're all on the Bush bashing train instead of how to best run the country. Its smart, its only about a year, and it'll ensure easier transition to keep things running when a replacement is ready and up to speed, which is in the best interest of the nation as a whole instead of pulling thing plug immediately and causing who knows what kind of havoc.

[RoveRoveRoveYourBoat]

...if he stays, will his neocon underlings will be dismissed ?

[izAriver]

This guy is part of the problem and has been for many years. Get rid of him. He wants to go home anyway. Send him back "to his remote lakeside home in Washington state.".

[TrueIndy08]

screw this... there are other highly qualified people who can step in and take this job.... this is utter nonsense....

BUSH BOTS MUST GO!!! If you worked for Bush... you have no place in this new progressive administration.....

[rollingdivision]

Obama supporters will be shocked and confused as they start to understand how much of what Obama promised during the campaign turns out to be just words. This will be especially true in foreign policy. Anyone still believe the US military will be out of Iraq in 16 months from January 2009 or June 2010? The trick of rename their mission from combat to other things doesn't count.

[avvocato]

Gates must go!

[Joeblue]

Make sure you get rid of him in a year. If Obama keeps these guys he's going to have all these Bush enemies around him.

[Richmoves]

Another smart move by Obama. This guy knows what he is doing. Gates is not Rumsfeld, that's for sure.

[rollingdivision]

Gates is Bush's man and knows what he's doing.

[Will-o]

Keeping Gates on for a while would be a great move. Gates is not a partisan, he is a highly competent adminstrator who has the respect of all branches of the service. With Gates running the DOD and Petraeus the overall commander of our forces on the ground in both Iraq and Pakistan there would be a seamless transition from Bush to Obama - very important when Obama is inheriting two conflicts and can expect challenges early on from Iran, Russia, etc. Most important this would mean that Obama could focus his main attention on steps to salvage the U.S. economy - which is the overiding priority right now - without having to worry about how the transition is going with regard to the military.

[mylegsareswollen]

Gates and Petraeus are excellent and MUST stay. Iraq is going to be a successful yet messy democracy IF we act smart.

The table is set in Iraq and the only thing Obama can do is screw it up if he acts rashly.
Too many sacrifices have been made to run now. I trust Obama understands this because the last thing he needs is Iraq to regress.

I have serious concerns about Afghanistan and Mr. Obamas decision to up the ante there. Afghanistan is a different terrain and, ironically, I don't think it's "winnable" unlike Iraq which has a long "civilized" history.

[ENOS]

I'm inclined to say the best thing to do is get rid of em'.. but, the transition might be smoother with Gates staying in there a while.

[robXdion]

The WSJ is working overtime to undermine Obama at every turn. This is the 3rd article about an unsavory policy directive they assume will make progressives turn on Obama.

[mercuryguy]

couldn't agree more.
Rethugs sitting in the rear sit can do more damage!!

[BLinCincinnati]

Keeping Gates on till 2010 opens the way for a few Generals to take his place after they finish their 10 year wait. By statute the Secretary of Defense must be a civilian who has not served in the active component of the armed forces for at least 10 years.

Anthony Zinni (four-star General in the United States Marine Corps and a former Commander in Chief of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)) would be eligible in Sept 2010.

Wesley Clark (four-star General in the United States Army and a former Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO) would be eligible in May 2010.

There are two others but I can't think of their names at the moment.

[Invox]

I think this is a good move on Obama's part. He'll have someone in place with a good degree of experience on Iraq while trying to deal with Priority #1 - the financial crisis. Too many big issues to have to start from square one on all of them. And Gates has actually made some progress on Iraq. The most worrisome appointment is Sec. of Treasury. Dear God in heaven! Will there be anything left of this economy on Jan. 20? Paulson is not an option!

[McChimp]

Paulson already said he's resigning.