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Pirate Smile

(27,617 posts)
27. I saw a tweet today from a FP person which said - imagine trying to get Gates confirmed now. The RW
Fri Jan 4, 2013, 09:13 PM
Jan 2013

& Neocons would freak.

Robert Gates Says Israel Is an Ungrateful Ally
Jeffrey Goldberg

-snip-
But it was Robert M. Gates, the now-retired secretary of defense, who seemed most upset with Netanyahu. In a meeting of the National Security Council Principals Committee held not long before his retirement this summer, Gates coldly laid out the many steps the administration has taken to guarantee Israel’s security -- access to top- quality weapons, assistance developing missile-defense systems, high-level intelligence sharing -- and then stated bluntly that the U.S. has received nothing in return, particularly with regard to the peace process.

Senior administration officials told me that Gates argued to the president directly that Netanyahu is not only ungrateful, but also endangering his country by refusing to grapple with Israel’s growing isolation and with the demographic challenges it faces if it keeps control of the West Bank. According to these sources, Gates’s analysis met with no resistance from other members of the committee.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-06/robert-gates-says-israel-is-an-ungrateful-ally-jeffrey-goldberg.html

i'm still not sure why Obama wants him. samsingh Jan 2013 #1
He's less militaristic than many Democrats. nt geek tragedy Jan 2013 #3
Neocons and the Defense Contractors hate him. Interesting tweet today: Pirate Smile Jan 2013 #26
that would be good then samsingh Jan 2013 #33
Hope Chuck has a flak jacket handy. Such craziness over a SecDef pick, I have never seen. TwilightGardener Jan 2013 #2
Same thing when Obama floated Susan Rice Cali_Democrat Jan 2013 #8
An ironic comment considering Hagel attacked Clinton nominee Hormel in a bigoted, hate fueled Bluenorthwest Jan 2013 #9
Yes--though I think the Rice thing was more of a strategic move TwilightGardener Jan 2013 #11
Republican 'reasons' are not what I am talking about. Bluenorthwest Jan 2013 #12
There were plenty of people here who did not want Susan Rice TwilightGardener Jan 2013 #14
So why did Obama nominate Kerry for Secretary of State? TroyD Jan 2013 #21
I read that he liked both candidates almost equally, but once it became clear TwilightGardener Jan 2013 #22
Do we not have any Dems who can fill this post? nt Mojorabbit Jan 2013 #4
We do. But think Jan 2013 #6
That's funny stuff. Republicans have called him a traitor for years on end now. Bluenorthwest Jan 2013 #10
Hagel doesn't give a rats ass if the GOP respects him think Jan 2013 #15
Chuck Hagel was an enlisted soldier and Dan Coats is a fucking retard. Arkana Jan 2013 #5
I am One Who Thinks PBO Should Move Ahead with Hagel's Nomination if That's His Choice Indykatie Jan 2013 #7
The Repubs have crazy views in general with Israel. They support only the right wing there. Jennicut Jan 2013 #13
How about the fact Hagel leftynyc Jan 2013 #16
He apologized for his homophobic remark. The HRC accepted his apology. Even if you don't jenmito Jan 2013 #18
When his name first came up leftynyc Jan 2013 #19
The Dems. who can do this are hawks compared to Hagel (who endorsed Obama in '08) and who jenmito Jan 2013 #23
I saw a tweet today from a FP person which said - imagine trying to get Gates confirmed now. The RW Pirate Smile Jan 2013 #27
Has a Republican president ever chosen a Dem for this position? polichick Jan 2013 #17
Not that I can find, at least as far back as Truman. Clinton however named republican Cohen, and Purveyor Jan 2013 #20
Well, I sure don't vote for Dem presidents so that they can perpetuate... polichick Jan 2013 #24
What are these 'bullshit myths'...may I ask? eom Purveyor Jan 2013 #25
That Dems can't handle the military and... polichick Jan 2013 #31
I agree LukeFL Jan 2013 #28
Pickin' a 'puke as SEC-DEF maybe kills many birds with one stone. If a Dem were picked, indepat Jan 2013 #30
I don't want him Rosa Luxemburg Jan 2013 #29
I think Hagel is a good choice davidpdx Jan 2013 #32
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