Robert Gates: My memoir has been 'hijacked' by politics - - what did he expect?

[spanone]

Last edited Mon Jan 13, 2014, 04:10 PM - Edit history (1)

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates clarified claims he supposedly made about President Obama’s commitment to the military surge in Afghanistan, saying Monday he “absolutely believed” the commander-in-chief supported the mission at the time.

Gates told TODAY’s Matt Lauer that the president fully supported the November 2009 surge but began to have reservations by the following spring.

“But as late as December 2010, he was still saying we were on the right track in Afghanistan,” he said. “So it was in our private conversations that he would express these reservations about whether it was working. But the decisions were right, and I believe that he believed it would work. “

Gates has been under fire for statements made in his new memoir, “Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War,” that suggested Obama lacked commitment to decisions he made about his strategy in Afghanistan.

http://www.today.com/news/robert-gates-my-memoir-has-been-hijacked-politics-2D11914115

[jeff47]

1. Yes, hijacked

This is just the evil politics jumping in. It has nothing to do with trying to drive up book sales.

[TwilightGardener]

2. Gates spent a lifetime serving politicians, and is now going to pretend

he has no idea how politics works in this country. Guy knew exactly what he was doing--and also knew that he would further undermine Obama's relationships with the military and Karzai while we are still at war. Heckuva job, Bobby, hope you enjoy your $$$.

[joeybee12]

3. +1

How could he not have known they'd jump on what was considered controversial? Jackass.

[spanone]

4. he's shocked i tell ya....shocked!

it wasn't hijacked by politics...IT was politics