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This was a sobering broadcast; all the guests agreed Iraq is a major problem. They differed on their view of Gates; Goodman had an EXTREMELY negative view of his personality, character, and past performance.
Goodman (I believe) said the situation in Iraq is MUCH WORSE for US than Vietnam ever was. It was stated that it will be very difficult logistically to leave Iraq; when US finally left Vietnam, there were not many US military there. They were talking about having to find a secure path out of Iraq to withdraw the soldiers and the incredible amount of equipment, much of which is very advanced. ALSO, guests said that Iraq is much more important to US interests than Vietnam ever was (primarily oil in Iraq and the ME).
This was broadcast Monday Nov 13.
10:00Defense Secretary Nominee Robert Gates Diane and her guests talk about Defense Secretary nominee and former CIA chief Robert Gates: what he would bring to the job and what his nomination signals for the future of the U.S. in Iraq.
Guests Amb. Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations and former director of policy planning for the Department of State. Author of "The Opportunity: America's Moment To Alter History's Course."
Melvin Goodman, senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, author of the forthcoming book "The Decline and Fall of the CIA." He served at the CIA from 1966 to 1990.
Jeff Stein, national security editor and SpyTalk columnist for Congressional Quarterly. Former Army Intelligence case officer in Vietnam.
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