Gates: Obama Thinks More Than Bush

David Gregory had Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Meet the Press this morning. One question he had to ask, as his interviewee has now worked for Presidents #43 and #44, is what differences there are between the two men. So how do you say one is more intelligent and thoughtful than the other in the nicest way possible?



That's how.

Obama Makes Good On Lifting Photo Ban On Military Coffins

With one stipulation, President Obama is responding to the demand that our country be able to see the human cost of war. His predecessor, who thrived on being secretive and blinding us to the realities of his decisions is gone and Obama is not only talking about change, but taking action. So what's that stipulation?

From MSNBC:

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert Gates has decided to lift the ban on news organizations photographing the flag-draped caskets of U.S. war dead returning home, and will instead leave the decision entirely up to the families, Pentagon sources said Thursday.[...]

The emerging policy mirrors one at Arlington National Cemetery, in which families largely decide whether they want media coverage.

That's a compromise I can certainly live with. The subject is certainly a sensitive matter and the wishes of families of the fallen should be respected. Yet when it comes to war, it is important for the nation to see the consequences of it's leaders' decisions. Gates claimed he wanted to change it a year ago, but I suspect Bush had a hand in delaying that change.

Could Robert Gates Stay At The Pentagon Under Obama?

Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo has the details on this. Though it is up in the air whether this is bad for finding a new direction at the Pentagon. The answer just might be in taking a close look at Brent Scowcroft.

They Want Us Out....Now!

Remember how George Bush and his Administration kept repeating (and still do) that they will withdraw forces if the Iraqis want us to? That is their answer to questions like "Are we going to have permanent bases in Iraq?" and "Why do conservatives have a 'White Man's Burden' complex in regards to Iraq?" Okay, that last question was mine, but journalists who have access to the President might want to try that one on for size. Or maybe if the Iraqis want us to leave, is this whole thing about a few people profiting off the war and the rest of us are screwed by it both in financial costs and the deaths of thousands of our troops and hundreds of thousands of civilians?

They really need to stop using the "They want us there so we'll stay" meme, because it just doesn't fly with Iraqis:

Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, whose post gives him a senior security role in the Iraqi government, said he would like to see U.S. forces draw down steadily to below 100,000 by the end of 2008.[...]

Rubaie told a small group of journalists at Iraq's embassy in London that he understood the arguments for a pause "to consolidate the gains" made over past months.

"I understand. But I believe phasing out and making it a continuous but slow withdrawal is better than pausing, as it gives continuity to the process," he said.

Now al-Rubaie is in the government, and by far a much more conservative voice than others in Iraq, like the militias and the majority of Iraqis. He wants a presence in Iraq, but for his own sake (to remain legitimate to the people) a reduction is needed.

Unless a reduction in forces begins, the new government will continue to face a legitimacy problem for the Iraqis that are still left in the country. Many want to return, but things are a little crazy over there at the moment, in case you don't pay attention to the chaos that is Baghdad, Tikrit, Mosul, Basra, etc etc.

The best thing is for us to pull out and let them sort the mess out, because really, haven't we done enough damage to that country already? Does anyone truly believe that we can fix this mess, while everyone hates us there more and more each and every day?

Feinstein Introduces Bill To Close Gitmo

This one took a while to surface in Congress, but thankfully Senator Feinstein put it out there this week. Closing the infamous Guantanamo Bay prison has been a long time on coming, every day it has helped to reduce our standing in the world community. It has shown that we as a nation condone torture, indefinite detention of people who may or may not have anything to do with terrorism. Gitmo is the ultimate sign of hypocrisy when our government calls on other nations to respect the rule of law.

From The Los Angeles Times:

In a statement, Feinstein said the detention facility had hurt America's credibility around the world because of allegations of abuse there and doubts about the legal rights afforded detainees.

"We must recognize the sustained damage this facility is doing to our international standing," she said in the statement. "We are better served by closing this facility and transferring the detainees elsewhere."

Feinstein's measure would transfer Guantanamo detainees to military or civilian detention facilities in the United States or to their home countries. The legislation allows detainees who "pose no continuing security threat" to be released. Feinstein said she opposed "releasing any terrorists."

This would be a tremendous blow for freedom and against the torture-loving Bush Administration. Here on the left, we have been on the government's case to close this terrible place since we found out that it existed. Feinstein's support comes mainly from the left, but she does have a supporter in the newest Cabinet member, Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Gates knows that this place has to be shut down. He even canceled an order for a new courthouse on the base. However, he is just one man inside of Bush's Administration. I hope that he and now Feinstein can do some good and get rid of prisons once and for all despite George's love for the place.

Staying In Iraq Reduces Stress?

I guess there is nothing like a good car bombing or IED attack to calm your frayed nerves these days. When I think of a stress reliever, it's gotta be found in the hellish hole of Iraq. Well, at least according to Gerry Gilmore at the Pentagon. This bastard had the audacity to say that serving a longer tour of duty over there helps families find stability and predictability in their lives. If you don't believe me, just check out the Pentagon's website.

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2007 – Extended overseas deployments affecting soldiers serving in Afghanistan and other locales overseen by U.S. Central Command should help to alleviate the stress on the Army, a senior U.S. officer in Afghanistan told Pentagon reporters today.

“I’m absolutely confident that that’s going to work and that’ll manage the pressure and the stress on the force,” Army Col. Martin Schweitzer, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division’s 4th Brigade Combat Team, said during a satellite-carried news conference.

All active U.S. Army units already operating within U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility, including Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa, or en route there “will deploy for not more than 15 months and return home for not less than 12 months,” Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced April 11 at a Pentagon news conference.

This is just a cheap trick to keep our soldiers in Iraq for longer amounts of time with a shaky promise to bring them home for a year at a time. The Pentagon is notorious for lying to our soldiers when it comes to pay, bonuses and the time they need to serve in the increasingly hostile country of Iraq. How one can say that this helps the stability of the families is beyond me. Every day their loved ones are at risk of being shot at or blown up is a terrifying reality, and for some that risk becomes a tragic loss of a husband, father, mother, wife, son or daughter. Instead of deploying them longer, we need to get the hell out.

Dems Breath A Bit Of Hope Into Iraq

Mess o'potamia is still in the proverbial shitter, but a Bush Administration official said that part of what is good is that will astound you. Defense Secretary Gates actually credited the Democratic Congress on its push to leave Iraq, giving the Iraqis a big sign that we want to get the hell out of there. It is always funny to see someone on the other side realize that you were, well, right all along. I wonder if his boss will follow his Defense Secretary and stop bashing Democrats over a plan that is showing success?

From The Washington Post:

Toward that end, Gates said demands in the U.S. Congress for a timeline to withdraw American troops from Iraq are constructive because they exert pressure on Iraq's leaders to forge compromises.

"The debate in Congress . . . has been helpful in demonstrating to the Iraqis that American patience is limited," Gates told Pentagon reporters traveling with him in Jordan. "The strong feelings expressed in the Congress about the timetable probably has had a positive impact . . . in terms of communicating to the Iraqis that this is not an open-ended commitment."

I wonder if Bush approved those comments before Gates went out on his own. Bush we know is lying through his teeth the moment he gets on stage for his little pep rallies, but this cabinet member might just a few more honest bones than George. Gates was discussing Moqtada al-Sadr's move to have all of his supporters in the Iraqi cabinet walk out, suggesting the continuing crumble of the inept government over there.

Reality Shows Meet The Oval Office

From YouTube poster 'Current', this Super News production spins 'reality shows' into the life and times of Bush and his sycophants: