SECDEF

SECDEF

What can one say about Bob Gates. He is already referred to as the most well liked Secretary of Defense in our history and I agree. I really like this guy. He took over from Don Rumsfeld whose ham handed administration of the Pentagon and war policy did more than its share to drive the United States from the pinnacle of respectability to whipping boy of the world. Mr. Gates has brought the war in Iraq to a nearly done bad nightmare. He was kept on by President Obama thereby ensuring continuity of leadership during the wind down of Iraq and the ramping up of Afghanistan. He is the only Secretary of Defense to serve Presidents of opposing parties.

He has exhibited a level head when confronted with opposing opinions from the Generals and the civilians who exercise authority over the military. Famously, he encouraged a buildup of troops in Afghanistan and steered a middle course between those who wanted to get out and those who wanted to push on to military victory. Even though he has stated that there exists no military solution for the war in Afghanistan he has been otherwise committed to degrading the capability of the Taliban and Al Qaeda to wage war.

He previously served as Director of the CIA and no doubt learned some valuable lessons from that tenure. Now we will see another Director of Central Intelligence move in to replace Mr. Gates. We can only hope that current Director Leon Panetta will be as astute in his new job in a very difficult time and place.

When NATO, under the leadership of Great Britain and France, was beating the drum for action in Libya Mr. Gates famously stated he could see little benefit for the United States in getting involved. President Obama went ahead and committed US forces under NATO command to that enterprise. It is proving to be a bit more difficult than first imagined.

Secretary Gates recognized early on that the Defense budget was going to have to be cut as part of the belt tightening the nation will have to undergo and offered ways to get it done. He has had the courage to advocate the rejection of some weapons systems he considered unnecessary, against formidable opposition. He has the ability to think globally and recently told the NATO defense ministers that they were going to have to up their commitment to their defense budgets instead of relying on the United States to carry the weight. One of the most difficult things in government to do is eliminate a bureaucracy once it is established. He has advocated eliminating some joint commands and faced considerably hostility from the Pentagon. There can be no doubt that he is a service person’s friend. He has advocated tirelessly for better conditions for our men and women in the field and for better care when they return.

To his credit he was proactive in engaging with the new Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, and found in her a reliable ally. In return he has advocated increasing the budget and the relevance of the State Department acknowledging that diplomacy will play the final act in our foreign engagements. After the President announced the timetable for withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan he, along with Admiral McMullen, said they were reticent about the decision but supported the President since he was the only one who could judge the political as well as the military costs.

We are genuinely blessed to live in a country in which the military is subject to civilian direction. On top of that the military leadership will defend to the death the system that serves us so well. They understand that it is not in their job description to make political judgments.

Now Robert Gates will go to write his book which should be quite informative. He has been in government service for some thirty years and through five Presidents. Mr. Panetta will step up to Mr. Gates' job and his lead General, David Petraeus will occupy the directorate of the Central Intelligence Agency. I think it has been a very astute team.

Into the future we must learn to use the diplomatic route more energetically and avoid becoming engaged in foreign wars except in the most dire of circumstances. Good decisions at the major Secretariats will lead to good results and a prosperous nation. Each of the people mentioned in the column has had the freedom to speak plainly to the President and the competence to carry out the mission once it has been defined. It is the way it is supposed to work and it stands in stark contrast to some previous administrations.

So long, Mr. Gates. The country owes you a debt of gratitude.

My take on SECDEF. Thanks.