| − | On November 8, 2006, [[George W. Bush]] followed in his father's footsteps by appointing Gates to the position of [[Secretary of Defense]] after [[Donald Rumsfeld]]'s resignation. He used that position to continue to fight the [[War in Iraq]]. In 2008, it was announced that Gates would remain Secretary of Defense for at least a year under the administration of incoming President [[Barack Obama]], so as to ensure a smooth process regarding how the situation in the [[Middle East]] was handled. This move has been criticised by people on both ends of the spectrum, and praised by others. Gates is expected to remain as Defense Secretary through 2010.<ref>http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-gates-defense9-2010jan09,0,3629923.story</ref> | + | On November 8, 2006, [[George W. Bush]] followed in his father's footsteps by appointing Gates to the position of [[Secretary of Defense]] after [[Donald Rumsfeld]]'s resignation. He used that position to continue to fight the [[War in Iraq]]. In 2008, it was announced that Gates would remain Secretary of Defense for at least a year under the administration of incoming President [[Barack Obama]], so as to ensure a smooth process regarding how the situation in the [[Middle East]] was handled. This move has been criticised by people on both ends of the spectrum, and praised by others. Gates is expected to remain as Defense Secretary through 2010.<ref>https://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-gates-defense9-2010jan09,0,3629923.story</ref> |