Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has done an excellent job under President George W. Bush in the last two years of his term, and under President Barack Obama in the first two years of his administration!
The author has, numerous times, hailed Gates’ performance, including moving toward the end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the military, and cutting defense costs and wasteful spending, now estimated to be long term about $330 Billion! He has been willing to fight the entrenched interests in the Pentagon and try to bring defense spending under control!
But Gates had made it clear when he agreed to stay on in the Defense Department under Obama that he wanted to leave after a couple of years, and that time is fast approaching!
Gates has been a good political cover for Obama, as a Republican loyal to him and making his defense policy easier to promote, even with attacks by most Republicans on everything else the President stands for!
The question will be who can fill the shoes of Gates at an extremely crucial moment in our history, and with the political campaign for 2012 about to begin formally after the Midterm Elections of 2010 occur on November 2!
As the author has long believed and stated back in the beginning of the creation of this blog two years ago, it seems to me that the best choice to replace Gates is the distinguished former Republican Senator, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a Vietnam veteran, but also a critic of the war in Iraq!
Being a Republican, and clearly an expert on defense and with lots of credibility on the subject, Hagel would be easier to have confirmed by a Senate likely to be stronger Republican next year at the least, and possibly a majority Republican, if the midterm elections turn out to be a Democratic disaster!
Hagel would fill the job admirably, would be a voice of conscience who would tell the President what he needed to know, and would be a good communicator with the media! He is a man of principle and strong patriotism, who would work well with others in promoting the safety and security of the nation, and overcome the partisan bickering and infighting in Congress!
So when Gates announces his retirement sometime next year, Barack Obama should nominate Chuck Hagel as his credible successor! 🙂