From The Huffington Post
Dated Sunday July 22
The Secretary of Defense Breaks with the President on Sanitizing the War
By Arianna Huffington
Another Republican stalwart has broken with President Bush over Iraq. No, this isn't a Republican senator making a speech to buy political cover come election time.
This latest voice of dissent actually came from deep within the administration. From the Pentagon. From the Secretary of Defense himself.
I had read about Gates' speech at the Marine Corps Association's annual dinner in Arlington when he broke down in tears during a tribute to Major Douglas Zembiec. But it was only when I saw the clip while taping the McLaughlin Group that I realized how significant and deeply felt was Gates' display of emotion . . . .
This war has been full of innumerable instances of both heroism and tragedy but what is striking when you watch Gates speak is the raw emotion he showed about this particular instance of both. By letting his true feelings in the moment get the best of him, Gates broke with the Bush policy of sanitizing the war.
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