Gates to stay at Pentagon through 2010

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Will oversee Afghan surge, Iraq cutbacks


Gates to stay at Pentagon through 2010
By Anne Gearan - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Jan 8, 2010 6:36:40 EST

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the most prominent Republican in President Barack Obama’s inner circle, plans to remain in his Cabinet post for at least another year.

Gates told Obama in December that he would stay on at least through the end of 2010, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said Thursday. The White House had no immediate comment.

Gates held the top defense job for two years under President George W. Bush. Obama had asked Gates to stay on shortly after Obama won the 2008 presidential election. The move was meant to maintain stability in a time of two wars and made good on an Obama promise to include Republicans among his close advisers.

Gates’ tenure in the Obama administration was never spelled out but was assumed to be for at least one year. A year into the Obama administration, Gates appears to be a key adviser and has showed no sign that he intended to be a short-timer.

“They agreed to revisit this issue again later this year,” but the commitment is open-ended, Morrell said.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/01/ap_gates_stayingon_010710/