Defense Secretary Robert Gates, a carryover from the Bush Administration, has gained the ire of Republicans by suggesting a reform of the defense budget and recognizing that war in the future will be different than the typical Cold War mentality that has continued to be a dominant influence in recent years.
It is surprising to see the conservative attacks on Gates, who many liberals wondered if he would be loyal to the changes that President Obama represented on defense issues during the campaign. As it turns out, Gates has proved to be willing to think outside the box and to take on his critics directly.
So it seems to me that Obama’s gamble in keeping Gates has worked out for the best, and it could be that maybe Gates will stay longer as Secretary of Defense than originally forecast when he agreed to help Obama. In any case, another smart move by Obama is contributing to necessary change in defense strategy that hopefully will succeed.