Changes

}}

}}

}}

}}

'''Robert Michael Gates''' was the twenty-second [[Secretary of Defense]]. He served in the [[Obama Administration]] and previously served in the second [[Bush]] administration. He took office after the forced resignation of [[Donald Rumsfeld]]. Gates is a registered independent because when working at the [[Central Intelligence Agency]], he believed he should be apolitical; however, he has said "I consider myself a [[Republican]]"<ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28022197/</ref>, and gave financial contributions to President George W. Bush's 2004 reelection campaign.<ref>http://www.newsmeat.com/washington_political_donations/Robert_Gates.php</ref> Gates is given credit for the "surge" in Iraq and the success of American policies there.  

'''Robert Michael Gates''' was the twenty-second [[Secretary of Defense]]. He served in the [[Obama Administration]] and previously served in the second [[Bush]] administration. He took office after the forced resignation of [[Donald Rumsfeld]]. Gates is a registered independent because when working at the [[Central Intelligence Agency]], he believed he should be apolitical; however, he has said "I consider myself a [[Republican]]",<ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28022197/</ref> and gave financial contributions to President George W. Bush's 2004 reelection campaign.<ref>http://www.newsmeat.com/washington_political_donations/Robert_Gates.php</ref> Gates is given credit for the "surge" in Iraq and the success of American policies there.  

==Early Life==

==Early life==

Gates was born on September 25, 1943, in Wichita, Kansas.  He received a scholarship to the [[College of William and Mary]] in Virginia and graduated in 1965 with a B.A. in history.  While attending William and Mary, he was very involved in the [[Young Republicans]], and even became the chapter's president.  He went on to receive a graduate degree in history from [[Indiana University]] and a Ph.D. in Russian and Soviet history from [[Georgetown University]].

Gates was born on September 25, 1943, in Wichita, Kansas.  He received a scholarship to the [[College of William and Mary]] in Virginia and graduated in 1965 with a B.A. in history.  While attending William and Mary, he was very involved in the [[Young Republicans]], and even became the chapter's president.  He went on to receive a graduate degree in history from [[Indiana University]] and a Ph.D. in Russian and Soviet history from [[Georgetown University]].

Comments on the value of a [[free press]]:

Comments on the value of a [[free press]]:

*"When it identifies a problem, as at [[Walter Reed]], the response of senior leaders should be to find out if the allegations are true, as they were at Walter Reed, and if so, say so," Mr. Gates said. "And then act to remedy the problem. If untrue, then be able to document that fact. ... The press is not the enemy and to treat it as such is self-defeating."<ref> [http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20070525-041807-9641r.htm Gates addresses Navy class] - May 25, 2007 </ref>

*"When it identifies a problem, as at [[Walter Reed]], the response of senior leaders should be to find out if the allegations are true, as they were at Walter Reed, and if so, say so," Mr. Gates said. "And then act to remedy the problem. If untrue, then be able to document that fact. ... The press is not the enemy and to treat it as such is self-defeating."<ref>[http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20070525-041807-9641r.htm Gates addresses Navy class] - May 25, 2007</ref>

==Afghanistan war==

==Afghanistan war==

[[File:Mcchrystal.jpg|thumb|250px|General McChrystal]]

[[File:Mcchrystal.jpg|thumb|250px|General McChrystal]]

In Aug. 2009, General [[Stanley A. McChrystal]], the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, said the Afghan government was riddled with corruption and NATO was being undermined by tactics that alienate civilians. He called the Taliban insurgency "a muscular and sophisticated enemy" that uses modern propaganda and systematically reaches into Afghanistan's prisons to recruit members and even plan operations. McChrystal alerted Washington that he urgently needs more forces within the next year; without them, he warned, the eight-year conflict "will likely result in failure."<ref> Bob Woodward, "McChrystal: More Forces or 'Mission Failure'' [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/20/AR200909200920.html ''Washington Post'' Sept 21, 2009] </ref>   

In Aug. 2009, General [[Stanley A. McChrystal]], the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, said the Afghan government was riddled with corruption and NATO was being undermined by tactics that alienate civilians. He called the Taliban insurgency "a muscular and sophisticated enemy" that uses modern propaganda and systematically reaches into Afghanistan's prisons to recruit members and even plan operations. McChrystal alerted Washington that he urgently needs more forces within the next year; without them, he warned, the eight-year conflict "will likely result in failure."<ref>Bob Woodward, "McChrystal: More Forces or 'Mission Failure'' [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/20/AR200909200920.html ''Washington Post'' Sept 21, 2009]</ref>   

American policy was increasing set by Defense Secretary [[Robert Gates]], originally appointed by President  Bush in 2006 and reappointed by  President Obama in 2009. Gates fired the commander General David McKiernan in May, 2009, replacing him with McChrystal. [[File:Afg-2009.jpg|thumb|350px|Obama plan to add 30,000 troops in early 2010]] Gates insisted on dropping the old strategy of hunting down insurgents and instead adopting a '''counterinsurgency''' strategy that focused on protecting local civilians and training Afghan soldiers and police to take over the job. Gates convinced Obama, who ordered 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan in Dec. 2009, with a deadline of 18 months, at which time a transition to Afghan responsibility would begin.  Liberals though Obama and Gates were making a big mistake--heading into another quagmire like Vietnam. However liberal Democrats in Congress will not try to block Obama's proposals.  Most conservatives, on the other hand, see victory in Afghanistan as a vital national goal and approve the new strategy, while voicing objections to the 18 month deadline.

American policy was increasing set by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, originally appointed by President  Bush in 2006 and reappointed by  President Obama in 2009. Gates fired the commander General David McKiernan in May, 2009, replacing him with McChrystal. [[File:Afg-2009.jpg|thumb|350px|Obama plan to add 30,000 troops in early 2010]] Gates insisted on dropping the old strategy of hunting down insurgents and instead adopting a '''counterinsurgency''' strategy that focused on protecting local civilians and training Afghan soldiers and police to take over the job. Gates convinced Obama, who ordered 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan in Dec. 2009, with a deadline of 18 months, at which time a transition to Afghan responsibility would begin.  Liberals though Obama and Gates were making a big mistake—heading into another quagmire like Vietnam. However liberal Democrats in Congress will not try to block Obama's proposals.  Most conservatives, on the other hand, see victory in Afghanistan as a vital national goal and approve the new strategy, while voicing objections to the 18 month deadline.

[[File:Af-UStroops.jpg|thumb|340px]]

[[File:Af-UStroops.jpg|thumb|340px]]