Bush has nominated former CIA chief Robert Gates to replace Rumsfeld.
You can read about Gates here, in Chapter 16 of Independent Counsel’s report on Iran/Contra.
The Conclusion of the Independent Counsel, quoted from the chapter:
“Independent Counsel found insufficient evidence to warrant charging Robert Gates with a crime for his role in the Iran/contra affair. Like those of many other Iran/contra figures, the statements of Gates often seemed scripted and less than candid. Nevertheless, given the complex nature of the activities and Gates’s apparent lack of direct participation, a jury could find the evidence left a reasonable doubt that Gates either obstructed official inquiries or that his two demonstrably incorrect statements were deliberate lies.”
There’s your new SecDef, America.
I was afraid of something like that
Somehow I knew better than to crow about Rumsfeld’s ouster. No way that Bush is going down without a fight.
D.
Did you really expect anything different? Now watch all the really dirty underhanded tactics start to happen until the next election.
I mean, you can’t really leave office civilly these days, right? You have to create a shitstorm for your inheritors to pick up and have to deal with. That’s the way of US politics.
What, people were actually expecting real change from Dubya?
“You are in command now, Admiral Piet. See that you do not fail me as well.”
Perfect.
But if you look under the barrel…
That’s the most amazing thing about this Administration. Any time you think one of their appointees is the worst possible person for an office, they prove that they can find someone even worse at the drop of a hat.
He’s going to have to get this guy past a Blue Congress, first.
Or does he only have to get him past a lame-duck session before the Dems take office in January?
I’ve seen someone paint this is a positive light. His rational goes something like this:
Gates isn’t a Bush Neocon Ideologue. He’s a Bush Sr Conservative Powermonger, a flavour that has been out-of-favour amongst the Neocon cronies and hench(congress)men.
Nominating Gates therefore represents a (miniscule) shift to the left on Bush’s part … a very minor conciliatory gesture.
Doug.
Like the song, “Henry the VIII”
Second verse,
Same as the first!
WTF?!? Is there just this huge line of unconvicted criminals waiting to be chosen for executive branch positions?
Don’t answer that.
I think this nomination will be torpedoed by the Dems one way or another. They’re still a bit tetchy when it comes to people from the Iran/Contra affair due to the very first October Surprise purportedly orchestrated by George H.W. Bush and the rest of these guys that wound up ousting Carter.
You were expecting better? I am just glad that he is no longer TAMU pres. I take my victories where I can.
Gates was in the ISG, which might be encouraging.