Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Defense Rests (Sec. Gates: Resigning in part before U.S. goes down on Obama's watch)
Newsweek ^ | Sunday, June 19, 2011 | John Barry and Tara McKelvey

Posted on 06/19/2011 3:28:26 PM PDT by kristinn

Aboard the Pentagon jet on his last foreign trip as secretary of defense, Robert Gates takes a moment to peer across the American horizon—and the view is dire: the U.S. is in danger of losing its supremacy on the global stage, he says.

“I’ve spent my entire adult life with the United States as a superpower, and one that had no compunction about spending what it took to sustain that position,” he tells NEWSWEEK, seated in a windowless conference room aboard the Boeing E-4B. “It didn’t have to look over its shoulder because our economy was so strong. This is a different time.”

A pause.

“To tell you the truth, that’s one of the many reasons it’s time for me to retire, because frankly I can’t imagine being part of a nation, part of a government … that’s being forced to dramatically scale back our engagement with the rest of the world.”

(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: robertgates
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-64 next last
To: kristinn

Perhaps Gates is bugging out before Obama gets indicted for war crimes.


21 posted on 06/19/2011 5:20:46 PM PDT by Hoodat (Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. - (Rom 8:37))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tet68

In the News/Activism forum, on a thread titled The Defense Rests (Sec. Gates: Resigning in part before U.S. goes down on Obama’s watch), tet68 wrote:

“What kind of AMERICAN only want’s to wield power then
when things get tough, want’s to bug out?

Yeah, we’re gonna have to cut back, make do with less,
that’s the kind of challenge AMERICAN’s thrive on, we
do what needs be done. We don’t pack up and hike once
the cream is off the top!!!

I got no use for someone like Gates and I sure wouldn’t want
him in a fox hole with me.”
~~~~~~~~~

He’s bowing out because our economy is weak? Unless he was edited unfairly, he made himself look like a coward slinking out the back door. Better for him to have said nothing at all.


22 posted on 06/19/2011 5:33:33 PM PDT by thouworm
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Hoodat

Gates is leaving because he was told to leave so Panetta can orchestrate the use of our courageous military to force through the globalists’ strategies of world in chaos to be saved by the controllers of money. If you doubt it, watch the headlines in the next few days as armored units are shipped to Libya to be killed by the al qaeda rebels and the Libyan army. We have a treacherous thug in the White House who ignores OUR Constitution. He works for others, not for America.


23 posted on 06/19/2011 5:36:10 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Some, believing they can't be deceived, it's nigh impossible to convince them when they're deceived.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

You can’t support an adequate military force without an adequate manufacturing base. Politicos will scoff at that, until consequences arrive.


24 posted on 06/19/2011 5:41:22 PM PDT by familyop (Rome was burned in a day--twice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

NOW he speaks out?
What a gutless wonder.


25 posted on 06/19/2011 5:48:10 PM PDT by silverleaf (All that is necessary for evil to succeed, is that good men do nothing)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

NOW he speaks out?
What a gutless wonder.


26 posted on 06/19/2011 5:48:34 PM PDT by silverleaf (All that is necessary for evil to succeed, is that good men do nothing)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tet68

“Yeah, we’re gonna have to cut back, make do with less,
that’s the kind of challenge AMERICAN’s thrive on, we
do what needs be done.”

That is what Americans once were. With the dumbing down and gimme entitlement mentality of so many people today, methinks not so much. Just the brutal facts as I see them, OMMV.


27 posted on 06/19/2011 5:56:26 PM PDT by Sea Parrot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Hoodat
Perhaps Gates is bugging out before Obama gets indicted for war crimes.

Like the one with Mexico? Seriously, Supplying arms to Terrorists in a foreign nation is an act of WAR against said nation!

28 posted on 06/19/2011 6:31:19 PM PDT by rawcatslyentist (It is necessary that a person be born of a father who is a citizen; ~Vattel's Law of Nations)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants
Gates was selected for his pro-homosexual stance.

What? He was selected for SECDEF because of his willingness to support the surge in Iraq back in 06.

29 posted on 06/19/2011 7:31:08 PM PDT by chargers fan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: EGPWS
CHANGE

COMING....I hope.....

30 posted on 06/19/2011 8:27:40 PM PDT by luvie (RUN SARAH...R U N!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Reagan Man

Can’t get any better than Rumsfeld...at least he was a former Naval Pilot...understood the military...


31 posted on 06/19/2011 9:08:53 PM PDT by shield (Rev 2:9 "Woe unto those who say they are Judah and are not, but are of the synaGOGue of Satan.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Reagan Man

Can’t get any better than Rumsfeld...at least he was a former Naval Pilot...understood the military...


32 posted on 06/19/2011 9:09:19 PM PDT by shield (Rev 2:9 "Woe unto those who say they are Judah and are not, but are of the synaGOGue of Satan.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

Oh for the days of Cap Weinberger.


33 posted on 06/19/2011 10:46:34 PM PDT by headstamp 2 (We live two lives, the life we learn and the life we live with after that.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tet68

That was worth saying more than twice!

Thank you for the post, and thank you for your service.


34 posted on 06/20/2011 12:03:42 AM PDT by dixiechick2000 (Age, skill, wisdom, and a little treachery will always overcome youth and arrogance!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Reagan Man

I really have no major beef with Gates, but I have very great respect for Don Rumsfeld, and I am totally convinced that he acted in what he saw as the best interests of our country, and was and is one of the greatest patriots in the service of our country.


35 posted on 06/20/2011 12:49:07 AM PDT by matthew fuller (My realistic, updated (06/05/11) dream picks, in order: 1.DeMint 2.Palin 3.Bachmann 4.Bolton 5. Cain)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Happy Rain

This was my first thought as well, the SECDEF that made the military safe for degeneracy.


36 posted on 06/20/2011 1:03:52 AM PDT by MSF BU (YR'S Please Support our troops: JOIN THEM!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Texas Fossil

There is never anything good about leading from behind.


37 posted on 06/20/2011 3:28:53 AM PDT by cake_crumb (Obama: the Unholy Won.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: familyop; kristinn
"Politicos will scoff at that, until consequences arrive."

Again. We have only to look back to Bill Clinton's military policy - the one lefties and "conservatives" alike blame on GW Bush.

38 posted on 06/20/2011 3:33:03 AM PDT by cake_crumb (Obama: the Unholy Won.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

How’s that “free trade” thing working, America?


39 posted on 06/20/2011 3:38:35 AM PDT by Cringing Negativism Network (BUY AMERICAN. The job you save will be your son's, or your daughter's)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

do I need more coffee, or.....

Did Gates play right along with cutting back defense spending up until recently?


40 posted on 06/20/2011 4:54:33 AM PDT by Scotswife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-64 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson