US SecDef: I'm no expert on Iraq...I'm no expert on military affairs

[Rose Siding]

That's United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to Congress-

“I would confess I'm no expert on Iraq.” Later, asked about reaching the right balance between American and Iraqi forces, he told the panel he was “no expert on military matters.”

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/01/12/doesnt-gates-fill-you-with-confidence-too

THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE.......
The Secretary of Defense is the principal defense policy advisor to the President and is responsible for the formulation of general defense policy and policy related to all matters of direct and primary concern to the DoD, and for the execution of approved policy. Under the direction of the President, the Secretary exercises authority, direction, and control over the Department of Defense.
http://www.dod.mil/odam/omp/pubs/GuideBook/DoD.htm#Secretary%20of%20Defense

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

1. Heck of a job, Brownie.

Heck of a job.

[SammyWinstonJack]

8. I was going to post the same thing.

:rofl:

[EFerrari]

2. And we thought the Cuban Missile Crisis was bad.

Help.

:wow:

[Disturbed]

6. Why did he get a majority of votes?

I said at the time that the Dems should have all voted no on this guy but they did the opposite. Why?

[EFerrari]

10. I don't know but my theory has been that the cons in power are firestarters.

They set multiple fires at the same time so the Democrats are always on the defensive and alway trying to prioritize which horrible thing they need to respond to first.

The man is a criminal and the Democrats never should have signed off on him. He was active in Iran-Contra and active in the cover up of the same.

argh

/clarity

[havocmom]

3. Governance by the least qualified - bush/cheney standard operating procedure

:banghead:

Support the troops: Get them some decent LEADERS!

[Telly Savalas]

4. ...but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night!

[Kagemusha]

5. Blame the man who picked him, people

Blame the man who wants advice from a non-expert on military matters, with the title of Secretary of Defense.

[tblue]

9. True. I guess you can't blame the guy for taking the job he's offered, even if he is wholly

unqualified. Wes Clark should be Sec Def, dammit!

[tabasco]

7. The only thing that matters to the Bush mafia is loyalty.

Just like the regular mafia (which doesn't exist, of course).

[catnhatnh]

11. So he's no brain surgeon....

...but he stayed at a Motel 6 last night???