Gates: How Much of a Difference Can He Make?
So..... Gates wowwed the Democrats during his hearing by saying just what they wanted him to say; namely that the war in Iraq is a bust and that we have screwed things up there since the "get go". I have to say, I am somewhat skeptical of this dog and pony show and feel that this is a public relation stunt to try and shed some of the negative karma the Bush Administration has taken on in recent years in terms of the Iraq struggle.
Gates is saying a troop pull out is needed, albeit a gradual one, and that what is really needed over there is a political, not a military solution. Well that is fine and good, but in the mean time Bush and Cheney have their heels dug in and keep chanting the "Stay the course" mantra. I wonder how it is that these two diametrically opposed strategies and points of view (Gates vs his Commander in Chiefs) can be reconciled resulting in a coherent US Iraq policy. I'll bet they cannot and that Gates will do a lot of talking and studying and nothing concrete will get done.
If Bush had not made such a black and white case about troops in Iraq, giving himself some wiggle room, I can see how something more diplomatic might come of Gates tenure as Secretary of State. However, Bush continues to speak stridently of keeping troop levels up in Iraq, and perhaps even increasing them in the short term. Cheney, the true font of power in the White House, is adamantly still a strong supporter of the "stay the course" strategy. If I had to make a bet on whose voice "W." is going to listen to and whose advice he is going to take, I would bet on Cheney and not Gates. My guess is that Gates will have a very frustrating two years in his position and that in the end, instead of telling people what to do, he will be told what to tell people.
It is a pity. Gates is a smart guy, but "hey" so was Colin Powell and look what happened to him and how the Bush Administration sullied his reputation and legacy. Although there is great hope on the Hill from the Democrats and Republicans who want to see the Iraq carnage stopped, all they are getting is a syncophant who will have absolutely no power to change a darn thing.
Gates is saying a troop pull out is needed, albeit a gradual one, and that what is really needed over there is a political, not a military solution. Well that is fine and good, but in the mean time Bush and Cheney have their heels dug in and keep chanting the "Stay the course" mantra. I wonder how it is that these two diametrically opposed strategies and points of view (Gates vs his Commander in Chiefs) can be reconciled resulting in a coherent US Iraq policy. I'll bet they cannot and that Gates will do a lot of talking and studying and nothing concrete will get done.
If Bush had not made such a black and white case about troops in Iraq, giving himself some wiggle room, I can see how something more diplomatic might come of Gates tenure as Secretary of State. However, Bush continues to speak stridently of keeping troop levels up in Iraq, and perhaps even increasing them in the short term. Cheney, the true font of power in the White House, is adamantly still a strong supporter of the "stay the course" strategy. If I had to make a bet on whose voice "W." is going to listen to and whose advice he is going to take, I would bet on Cheney and not Gates. My guess is that Gates will have a very frustrating two years in his position and that in the end, instead of telling people what to do, he will be told what to tell people.
It is a pity. Gates is a smart guy, but "hey" so was Colin Powell and look what happened to him and how the Bush Administration sullied his reputation and legacy. Although there is great hope on the Hill from the Democrats and Republicans who want to see the Iraq carnage stopped, all they are getting is a syncophant who will have absolutely no power to change a darn thing.
