Gates Conceals Real Story of “Gaming” Obama on Afghan War

[DonViejo]

Analysis by Gareth Porter

WASHINGTON, Jan 10 2014 (IPS) - Criticism in the memoirs of former secretary of defence Robert M. Gates of President Barack Obama’s lack of commitment to the Afghan War strategy of his administration has generated a Washington debate about whether Obama was sufficiently supportive of the war.

But the Gates account omits two crucial historical facts necessary to understanding the issue. The first is that Obama agreed to the escalation only under strong pressure from his top national security officials and with very explicit reservations. The second is that Gen. David Petraeus reneged on his previous commitment to support Obama’s 2009 decision that troop withdrawal would begin by mid-2011.

Gates makes only the most glancing reference in the newly published “Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary of War” to the issue of the beginning of troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The former defence secretary refers to “suspicion and distrust of senior military officers” by both Obama and vice president Joe Biden. And he describes a Mar. 3, 2011 National Security Council meeting in the White House situation room which Obama opened by criticising the military for “popping off in the press” and vowing to push back against any military delay in beginning the withdrawal.

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http://www.ipsnews.net/2014/01/gates-conceals-real-story-gaming-obama-afghan-war/

[GeorgeGist]

1. What part of COMMANDER-in-chief ...

does Gates not understand?

[polichick]

2. "suspicion and distrust of senior military officers"...

You'd have to be a complete idiot NOT to have suspicion and distrust of senior military officers given Eisenhower's warning all the way in the 1950s and everything that has happened since.

I only wish Pres. Obama had listened to himself and Biden and not senior military officers.