In his new memoir, Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War, former defense secretary, Robert Gates, heavily criticizes President Obama.
Gates cites his belief of President Obama’s lack of leadership on defense strategies in the book, specifically in Afghanistan. Gates served under President George W. Bush starting in 2006 and in 2010, when Obama was elected president, he became the first to serve presidents of both the Republic and Democratic parties. He left his post in 2011.
According to a review of the memoir in The Washington Post although he later described the president as "a man of personal integrity" who “was right" in his decisions regarding the war in Afghanistan, Gates wrote of President Obama that he "doesn't believe in his own strategy, and doesn't consider the war to be his. For him, it's all about getting out."
He added, "I never doubted Obama's support for the troops, only his support for their mission.”
Despite these comments, NSC spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden, said President Obama “welcomes differences of view among his national security team,” because it helps “broaden his options and enhance our policies."
According to Reuters, Gates also called President Obama’s administration the most “centralized and controlling” as far as national security sinceR ichard Nixon and Henry Kissinger’s administrations.
image: Wikimedia Commons
