Gates orders overhaul of Pentagon mentor program

[Tx4obama]

Source: USA Today

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday ordered an overhaul of the Pentagon's use of retired senior officers to advise the military, limiting the pay of "senior mentors" and requiring them to disclose their business ties to defense contractors.

The new policy balances the military's desire to tap the wisdom of its former leaders "with the need to hire such experts in a manner that promotes public trust and confidence," says a Pentagon fact sheet sent to lawmakers. As the new rules take effect over the next 90 days, mentors will be subject to federal conflict-of-interest laws and regulations.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2010-04-01-mentors_N.htm?csp=34

[dmr]

1. Good! This should have been in place a long, long time ago. n/t

[Hekate]

2. I think Gates is turning out to be just who Obama -- and we -- need. nt

[No Elephants]

3. STRONGLY disagree.

In general (no pun intended), Democrats need to stop appointing Republican to oversee defense and money. This only reinforces the stereotypes that Democrats are no good at those things, which are the two most important things to many voters. Therefore, while the practice may provide political cover for the Democratic President who makes the appointment(s), the practice is bad for the Party in the long run, IMO.

As to this issue in particular, Gates is not doing anything that a Democrat working under this Administration could not do and would not do, if the CIC wanted.



As to Gates in particular, he's been in a position of power in one agency or another of government for a very long time and he's been Seccretary of Defense since 2006. Where has his concern about this program been all this time? Who has let this program go until now? Which Secretary of Defense has left it without rules? Which Secretary of Defense still is not ready to let it go? Which Secretary of Defense is implying the program is necessary for national "defense?"




"The mentors programs grew throughout the past decade, as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan prompted a dramatic increase in the volume of training.

Gates did not object to the premise of hiring retired generals. "The use of senior mentors by DoD enhances the readiness of our Armed Forces," the policy memo says.

However, the Defense secretary became concerned about the lack of rules, the levels of compensation, and the potential for unregulated conflicts of interest, according to his press secretary, Geoff Morrell. He directed Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn to review the programs and issue recommendations about potential changes. "

[saigon68]

4. Another Boy Acolyte of the Military Industrial Complex

Which has had its hands on the wallet and reproductive organs of amerika since WW 2

[Kolesar]

5. Nuclear arms treaties, cancelled aircraft, getting out of Iraq...

It's all good