Bob Gates used to be a good Republican who didn’t go in for this namby-pamby “Let’s announce to our enemies the date when we will stop bombing them” bull-hockey, but two years as a member of Obama’s Politburo have clearly turned his brain into Democrat mush. That’s why he’s announcing a phased, strategic withdrawal from his Pentagon office, to be completed by 2011, assuming local militia forces are sufficiently trained to take over by then.
Listen to the sound of cowardice:
Gates, the only Bush holdover in President Obama’s Cabinet, made the announcement in an interview conducted at the Pentagon with Foreign Policy magazine on July 12 that was published Monday.
Gates has been expected to leave the administration before the 2012 election.
“I think that by next year I’ll be in a position where, you know, we’re going to know whether the strategy is working in Afghanistan. We’ll have completed the surge,” Gates, 66, told the magazine.
“We’ll have done the assessment in December, and it seems like somewhere there in 2011 is a logical opportunity to hand off.”
Who will take over the Defense Secretary job? There hasn’t been a Democrat in the post since 1997 (remember, Bill Cohen was a Republican) because obviously liberals are mincing cowards physically incapable of giving orders to generals. Therefore, Obama will have to find a Republican for the gig. We hear Donald Rumsfeld is available!
Gates plans to spend his retirement building the Boy Scouts up into a fearsome paramilitary death squad that will help him seize control of the country in a bloody coup sometime in 2013. [Fox]
{ 38 comments }
How about appointing a wise Arab?
Kucinich for SecDef.
“I think that by next year I’ll be in a position where, you know, we’re going to know whether the strategy is working in Afghanistan.”
We’re in that position right now, and the answer is no. The answer will always be no, until the strategy turns to getting the fuck out.
Mission accomplished, motherfucker!
Also, Lindsey Graham would be fabulous as SecDef. For the troops!
Sarah Palin for SecDef! She can demonstrate her grasp of strategy, military matters, counter-insurgency. Her fans will finally be able to sleep at night knowing Sarah is on the wall, standing guard. I can’t think of a downside. Oh sure, we might be less safe from invasion and attack, but much safer from socialism and the non-heterosexuals which are the real threats.
Let’s see if Obama has the cojones to nominate her.
(Also, Michelle Malkin for Chairman Joint Chiefs. And Rush Limbaugh for head of DEA.)
[re=639348]JMP[/re]: And even when the strategy is “GTFO”, it’s still not going to be “working” too well for the actual Afghans. But they’re pretty fucked anyway.
Perhaps Robert Gates should just borrow the never sensical words of our favorite Snowbilly as she ‘passed the ball’:
“Life is too short to compromise time and resources… it may be tempting and more comfortable to just keep your head down, plod along, and appease those who demand: ‘Sit down and shut up’, but that’s the worthless, easy path; that’s a quitter’s way out. And a problem in our country today is apathy. It would be apathetic to just hunker down and “go with the flow”. Nah, only dead fish “go with the flow”. No. Productive, fulfilled people determine where to put their efforts, choosing to wisely utilize precious time… to BUILD UP.”
Never gets old.
It’s just his defense for use in future 60 Minutes interviews. “Hey, Morley, Iraq was working fine when I left!”
[re=639347]Oblios Cap[/re]: A couple months back, some blogger proposed this switch-eroo. Clinton goes from SoS to SecDef, Biden goes from VP to SoS, and then someone else becomes VP.
Don’t worry Sec. Gates, there is a batter job waiting for you. McChrystal went to Yale.
[re=639362]rafflesinc[/re]: “…and then someone else becomes VP.” William Ayers?
There hasn’t been a Democrat in the post since 1997
Right. So let’s put a Democrat in there for a change. Someone like Robert McNamara. No, wait.
[re=639362]rafflesinc[/re]: Sally Quinn would be SO PISSED if she knew she’s just “some blogger”…
The article does make a good point. Gates did have quite a mess to clear out after Rumsfeld vacated.
Regarding Hillary as SecDef, I don’t see why she’d make the move. She’s turned the SecState job back into a real position, not a parking place for people who are good to put in front of the camera and not much else use.
Biden also serves a solid role as VP. People cast him as a buffoon, but he’s actually a smart man. He can go out in front of the cameras and float a trial balloon of an idea to the press and country. If it’s not received well, the Administration can say ‘Oh, that’s just our Joe…”. If it’s well received, they can move forward.
I have a suspicion that they’ll pick a military person for the job, a retired or near retired general.
[re=639368]SmutBoffin[/re]:
“Don’t worry Sec. Gates, there is a batter job waiting for you.”
IHOP?
Sarah Palin is the perfect choice of SOD.
Why do these people keep working past 65 anyway? If it were me I’d be on a boat in Thailand somewhere, savoring the local flavor. Hell, I’d be there right now if I could.
[re=639378]Terry[/re]: DH for the Red Sox.
He was the calm, tough Carl Weathers voice “hopey” so desperately needed.
[re=639362]rafflesinc[/re]: Clinton goes from SoS to SecDef….
But maybe she doesn’t want to be a war criminal. Then again, it might be a smart career move.
[re=639376]WindbagCity[/re]: [re=639377]Terry[/re]: Wow do I feel embarrassed. I think I conflated Sally Quinn’s blogging with some drivel I read on Politico about Hillary being a good fit for SecDef.
http://gawker.com/5567063/insane-sally-quinn-wants-hillary-clinton-and-joe-biden-to-switch-jobs
Here we go:
Clinton, with her hawkish image and ties to Gates and to military brass, would be his most logical successor — and some of her most senior allies have begun quietly to float the notion.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0510/Clinton_to_DoD.html?showall#
Easiest time for withdrawal is after complete flaccidness has been achieved.
Why do these people keep working past 65 anyway? If it were me …blah blah War criminals do not retire at 65. They like their jobs.
[re=639396]rafflesinc[/re]: Well, regardless of where you got the info, it’s chilling. Just imagine Hildebeest as SecDef. That would be her chance to prove that she’s really a tough guy.
Wesley Clark becomes eligible for such a post in 2011 as his ten years post-military service restriction is up or will be soon. I’d like to see him get offered the SECDEF job. VP and SoS are in very capable hands right now. No movement there.
[re=639378]Terry[/re]: HA! Think smaller, though. Funnel cake vendor at the IL State Fair.
[re=639357]progressiveinga[/re]: Got to celebrate it!
Wouldn’t it be easier for Obama to simply replace the Pentagon with a Mosque? Then he can just move Sasha or Malia in as grand Ayatollah, and all will be fine.
You know, if Don Rumsfield has simply announced his retirement in early 2001, the Muslims would have held off bombing the Pentagon to build a mosque until after he left.
…”seize control of the country in a bloody coup sometime in 2013″. Please be reminded sir/madam, that the Mayan Commie/muslin/terrists say we’ll all be dead by November 2012.
[re=639456]Brazillionaire[/re]: Well, that will just make it easier, you America-hating defeatocrat!
Robert Gates is stepping down in order to spend more time with his Boy Scouts.
Did Gates discuss this decision with his boss, or is the Commander in Chief persona non grata at the Pentagon? President Obama .. haha, whatever.
[re=639347]Oblios Cap[/re]: Morning, Yanks!
If the war(s) still continue by the time Gates leaves, I say put Petreus on the hot seat; if the war(s) are over, then select Wes Clark or Eric Shinseki to rebuild your exhausted, overstretched and broken military…
[re=639362]rafflesinc[/re]: Perhaps this Rep. Grayson I occasionally hear about can be the new VP?
[re=639489]Extemporanus[/re]: Win!
Don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t be nervous, don’t be flustered, don’t be scared – Be Prepared!
He wants to get out before things get REALLY bad in Afpak. Let someone else take the blame when the US forces are slaughtered, trying to flee, and one survivor is allowed to make it to Peshawar.
[re=639377]Terry[/re]: There’s always Wes Clark?
Comments on this entry are closed.