What’s the Meaning of Gates’s Iran Memo?
by Jed BabbinSaturday’s New York Times reported the leak of a secret January memo from Defense Secretary Gates to “top White House officials” warning that “the United States does not have an effective long-range policy for dealing with Iran’s steady progress toward nuclear capability…”
The article quoted an unnamed senior official who called the memo “…a wake-up call.” But the day after the initial report, Gates told the Times, “The memo was not intended as a ‘wake-up call’ or received as such by the president’s national security team.” He added, “Rather, it presented a number of questions and proposals intended to contribute to an orderly and timely decision-making process.”
Was it that, or something else? All evidence leads to the latter.
This is an example of one Washington game played by “senior administration officials” from time beyond memory. The clues to who and why are not well-hidden.
Who leaked Gates’s memo?
The first Times article differentiates the anonymous “senior official” who described the memo from White House officials who “disputed” his view. That means the most probable leaker was Gates himself or someone on Gates’s staff acting with his knowledge.
Obama’s National Security Advisor, Gen. James Jones, chafed at the Gates memo. The first NYT article quoted him as saying, “On Iran, we are doing what we said we were going to do. The fact that we don’t announce publicly our entire strategy for the world to see doesn’t’ mean we don’t have a strategy that anticipates the full range of contingencies – we do.”
But that’s no answer. Gates said Obama’s policy was inadequate, not that he didn’t have one. But the fact that Gates so quickly downplayed the meaning of the memo indicates two things. First, that he doesn’t view the Iran policy disagreement to be a serious dispute with Obama, at least yet. Second, that he stands by the memo in a clear vote of no confidence in Obama’s closest advisors.
Gates is too old a Washington hand to believe that the leak of the memo would result in Obama revising his policy toward Iran. So what’s the point? Is it to contribute to the decision-making process, or to the history books?
Gates is writing for the record. And when Obama’s Iran policy is publicly recognized a failure, Gates – in his memoir – will go back to the memo he wrote and claim absolution.
During the early years of the Clinton presidency, CIA Director James Woolsey was routinely unable to get Clinton into a private meeting to discuss intelligence matters. Woolsey resigned in frustration. There is no reason to believe Gates has been that unwelcome in Obama’s councils. That may change as a result of this memo when those closest to Obama retaliate for what they will see as Gates’s disloyalty to them.
And before the end of the year, Gates may resign.
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106 Comments
What does it mean? It means we don't have any idea what to do about Iran.
Now, a better question would be: Why don't we have a better idea about what to do with Iran after so long?
We are cruising for a bruising, while Barry the Boy King is on the back nine. When the Iran problem finally erupts, it will be a problem of biblical proportions…no pun intended.
Am I the only one getting tired of secretly 'leaked' memos?
Both sides are CONSTANTLY leaking stuff…
Either the info 'leaked' is confidential and vital to security… in which case leaking it is treason… OR, it's not vital and there's no need for secret leaking… Just man up and come forward.
NObama doesn't know what to do… Iran is ALREADY a sociaIist, dictatorship country… In his view its a perfect place already… no need to do anything.
Bearing in mind that I have no expertise in this field I'll offer up my opinion anyway. Yay, internets!
The underlying world view is that America causes other countries to be aggressive merely by being a super-power.
If America would only fall in line with the rest of the world as just another average country, not powerful enough to be a threat to anyone, then countries like Iran would stop being so aggressive.
I think this is a naive world view and will result in much death and misery.
The memo was probably leaked by one of the many Israeli agents who infest every level of our government. Why did they do it? To try to embarrass Obama and force him to overreact against a country that will not have any sort of deliverable nuclear weapon in at least 5 years and will probably never have the capability of launching an attack on American soil.
Actually, I'd describe Iran more as a fascist theocracy. But I agree, obama would still see that as a perfect place already.
Secretary Gates is sending a message from inside the silent and sealed walls of obamasoros world. Wake-up !!
Are we all not shocked that Amanutjob didn't roll over and play nice when THE CHOSEN ONE was elected! The rest of the world did (NOT)!
I'm pretty sure that the current administrations insiders are still shocked that "HOPE & CHANGE" with no real substance actually won the election and have been scrambling from one crisis to another ever since.
We won't do anything about Iran until it's too late because it would make Obama's "reaching out with unclenched hand" theory idiotic and make him a fool . I mean, come on, who would want to offend the muslim brotherhood in that country with hard core security decisions?
This administration HAS NO strategy because even if the military did make suggestions, the doofus chicago mob would scratch their heads saying "what?" "uhm", "err", "hmm", let me think about it.
Dithering, dithering and more dithering. We have NO commander-in-chief and will have to wait for Israel to save our sorry ass.
Gates needs to take a full boat offensive against the White House and make it visible in the media so he doesn't get tossed into the garbage pile. Demand, don't ask for them to present solutions. This "transparent" administration needs to be exposed to the blind liberals. Once they see he plans on running over them ram-shod like he has the conservatives then they'll realize he has been using them to destroy the US.
Well, there still is the existence of the zionist entity, Israel. But give obama some time and he'll help Iran solve that problem, too.
Your'e delusional and siding with the enemy.
I'm sure if we give obama enough time he'll help Iran solve the "american problem" too.
I'll bet that would be just fine with you. But we have no intention of giving him that much time.
"the blind liberals"…………." they'll realize he has been using them to destroy the US"
Unfortunately, I'm afraid too many of them would be all too happy to know they played that part.
Sorry — I was being sarcastic — I don't have any intention of giving him that time either.
Looks to me like the memo was part of his exit strategy, which he formed last December. It should come as no surprise that Gates wants out of his job, see the story "Bush holdover Gates agrees to another year with Obama" athttp://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/01/08/robert.gat... That story was from this past January.
Gates committed to stay another year, and the assistant secretary of defense said that Gates and Obama "agreed to revisit this issue again later this year." Gates had discussion about the limited nature of his commitment in December, then the memo was leaked in January. Hmmmmm.
Hmm, I wonder if the United States government should invade North Korea? I wonder when that madman in North Korea is going to fire a nuke off.
Hmm, I wonder if the United States government should invade Iran?
I wonder if the United States could even afford to invade another country?
What do you mean afford it, Mr. Knoxs, can't we just print more money and borrow more money?
Well, son, that works for a while.
Its probably "their" way of putting an unofficial warning out to the people; to those who can read btwn the lines. Think about it if Gates literally spoke out the firestorm that would occur, or any general/ admiral etc! 'Leaks' like this are more than likely a way to put a warning out. For those surprised by BHO's move to systematically disarm this country dont be surprised. He told EVERYONE exactly what he was going to do. Those of us who heard it loud and clear and tried to warn the masses/sheep were shunned, ridiculed, called racists, bigots and the list goes on. I'm curious how many of those who were quick to crucify ppl like myself where do you stand now, now that we are in an "I told you so" situation?!
Are you angry? Don't blame the politicians… blame the zombies who fell for this guy and the rest of the socialist parties BS, blame the voters. I look forward to anyone readily to admit they voted for any of these degenerates. The hell I am going to let them have!
NOW is the time for "out of the box" thinking in dealing with all politicians, bias fringe media and special interest groups . Unconventional tactics are what is going to be needed to affect real change through http://www.savingtherepublic.com
My apologies. We have that anti-Semitic contingency that post here, and I guess I lumped you in with that. Please include the "/sarc" tag if you want to avoid misunderstanding in the future.
One of the last great Americans – Lindbergh! Must listen!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_F48oaOskI
And then there is the hero Smedley Butler.
No more war. Tell the globalist war mongers to get stuffed!
No reason to "do" anything about it. You don't feel a "need" to "do" something about Zimbabwe do you? The borderless band of extremist terrorists that most threaten us is Israel.
Looks like they worked him over pretty good. Those bastards!
That would be a favor to the world, not just the US and Iran.
Israel has attacked us repeatedly, Iran never has.
"Chosen Ones"?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_F48oaOskI
…It means that just like in Iraq in 1981, and Syria in 2007, Iran in 2010 will have to have their threat of nuclear weapons destroyed by Israel….
Moabama is the epitome of inadequacy. Insufficient, deficient, and the hollow shell of a boy who would be king.
Lacking in judgement and rational thought process……..he's an empty suit with a head devoid of an original thought. He's a shitty excuse for a sock puppet. An insignificant footnote in the annals of American history.
And come November……………he'll be the lamest of all ducks. I can't wait. Get him out of here………..
You mean Israel will continue to make unprovoked attacks on their neighbors and make more enemies and then run behind the apron strings of the US?
Little Barry always has a Plan A and a Plan B, unfortunately for us it's his right and left index fingers. Our president isn't even smart enough to fake sympathy for Poland, it's a relief to me knowing he hasn't offered his two cents.
…Your Jew-envy is obvious and amusing….
You are a fool.
Which country would you rather have to live in, Israel or Iran?
No contest.
You're right. We should start a program to defend against missiles only if there are actual missiles in the air coming right at us… and not a minute before.
Are you a fool, or do you just play one on the internet?
Muslims and Marxists infesting our government are the real problem deary. They are cockroaches that won't go away. McCarthy was right 85% of the time — time for some more good ol' commie eradication. They can take it.
See how easy it is to draw the anti Israeli trolls to the discussion?
He would rather continue to live in the land of mommies basement, it's the only place that will have him.
Anarchists are delusional, that's why they want free stuff from the government while advocating no government.
.
It's always bush or the juus with you trolls.
To overreact you woudl first have to be willing to act, Obama is incapable of either.
Jimmy Carter was nice to Iran, and the mullahs took over and not a moment of peace in 30 years since. Now Obama wants them to get nukes. I'm not a birther, but I will gladly pretend to be one if it will get this menace out of office.
.
It may come to that. Gates may be playing the usual cover your anatomy game, or it may be something deeper. He is the only real grown-up on the Obambi team, and he knows it. He may feel he needs to hang on in order to salvage something out of the wreck. If he goes full on confrontation, he will be sacked or marginalized – as HRC has been. Then who will teh one replace him with?
Blind liberals do not care. They actually believe we can hope&change Iran out of their nukes.
I see you have toned down your rhetoric a bit, no more I hate the juus?
Dissapointing, what woud your fellow truthers think?
That is a hoot isnt it?
Down with all government, but before you go and after your gone we demand cradle to grave services!
These communist clowns can't even give themselves proper cover, at least in the old days the KGB was competent, this new crew of home grown marxists are complete fools.
Classic disinformation. This is the purpose; We leak something saying we have no contingencies planned. Iran sees this and decides to act against us or Israel while we still have a large presence in Iraq. We effectively convince Iran to commit to action (if they are actually planning anything) before they are "ready", and while we sill have a strong presence in the neighborhood. Provided Ahmadinejad is dumb enough to take the bait, we have justification to stick around in the middle east, finally have a reason to go after Iran, and get some of the world back on our side in the process.
1. Closer to one year for the bomb and not much more for a missle. There are other alternatives. Tactical nuclear warheads have been installed in 155mm artillery shells. Allowing for shell wall – that is about twice the size of a 5lb coffe can. How hard would that be to smuggle into Tel Aviv (or New York). Iran has already test fired missles from freighters in the Black Sea. One high altitude EMP airburst launched from a ship just off US coast could shut down everything using electricity over an entire region. No direct casualties – but consider the economic damage alone.
2. Lots of Israeli agents in US. Hard to blame them. I wouldn't trust us. US record of standing by allies is appalling.
3. Iran won't NEED to nuke anyone, even Israel, which would be dumb anyway: Nuking Palestine is like destroying the village to save it. They will have 90% of the worlds petroleum under their nuclear guns. They can dictate terms to world and the Gulf states will go along rather than risk anihilation. What could we do to stop them short of a nuclear exchange?
4. Obama administration is beyond embarrasment.
Damn straight!! How is it that everyone has long forgotten how the Israelies stormed the US embassy in Tel Aviv and held our diplomats hostage for over a year? And what about all those advanced armor penetrating mines Israel supplied Al Queda in Iraq to use against our troops!
You must not know any anarchists.
Iran.
No contest.
Learn something: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-28842323...
I'll pony up the first 20 bucks for a one way to Tehran for this d!ckhead. Any more takers?
Good Lord, where to start with people like you.
1) Even if Iran is 5 years away from delivering a nuclear weapon (and based on other expert analysis, it's likely sooner), lib/dim idiots have no concept for preparing for the future and only have the ability to live in the present. They never have any plans for what might/will happen, they just want to wait until it does happen, then blame someone else. This is why liberalism is considered a mental disorder. There's no place for it in government.
2) Look outside, there's little black helicopters flying in "whisper" mode just outside your window.
Paranoid much?
I'm good for $20
I've been expecting Gates to move on for a while now, after all Iraq is winding down, Afghanistan is
fairly low on the list of fires that need tended, by now o should be able to find his own Sec/Def.
How much longer can Gates stay on & avoid being forever tied to the mistakes this administration
has made, but more importantly, is sure to make in the next 3 years? Of course, one more thing for
Gates to worry about is the next big blow-up, wherever, whenever that may happen. Does he want
to get stuck being the front man for this bunch when Israel takes out Irans nuclear facilities. Could
Gates stand before the American public & justify our failure to help Israel if they are attacked by any
of their neighbors? Next question, who among o's Marxist minions is up for this job?
Actually, I personally wish they would attack Iran's nuclear ambitions and Iran would try to fight back. We need a good excuse to just finish off those rogue goverments in that area and be done with them once and for all. I'm all for having Israels back in that altercation.
England has nukes.
England has invaded us!
… England is a bigger threat, by your logic
btw, Iran has attacked us (embassy in 1970s, several incidents in the Persian Gulf in the 80's, IIRC)
Ticket isn't the problem. I want all the money I have paid in to this fraudulent system.
You must be misremembering things – we shot down an Iranian airliner.
so how much will it take to get rid of you — permanently?
Ditto, Rayvet !
so Iran did not attack our embassy in the 70's? Who did? The Village People?
BTW, the airliner was during one of those incidents. Iran actually declared war on the US. A tragic accident. There have been many by many countries.
No, the airliner was during peacetime – once again the only ones breaking the peace was our government.
If capturing our embassy is bad then is it bad that Israel claims to have captured land in war? What did Iran do with the hostages? What where their demands?
Okay Hannity. Calm down now…
You're giving Gates and the administration too much credit. I hope you're right though.
The only plan is the subjugation of America by the progressives. No other plan matters.
Attack their ambitions – what a funny slip.
Israel has attacked us. Iran has not.
Israel is a rogue nation, Iran is not.
Israel refuses to even define their own borders and sign the NNPT.
Gates spent 27 years with the CIA, disinformation is second nature at that point. Barry and his cronies didn't necessarily need to have anything to do with it.
Obama is dismantling America. It will become impossible to prepare for a war, as our commander in chief will bury his head in the sand when it becomes necessary to fight.
A funny slip NOT. Iran says they want the bomb and are going to get one. That's called an ambition. God lib/dim trolls are stupid.
"Israel has attacked us. Iran has not.
Israel is a rogue nation, Iran is not.
Israel refuses to even define their own borders"
False, False and False. Next troll please.
the embassy attack was not "breaking the peace"
I revise my opinion of you. You are not a fool. You are a damn fool.
A funny slip NOT. Iran says they want the bomb and are going to get one.
A bald-faced lie. They have actually stated the OPPOSITE. Time to turn off Faux News.
"In my opinion, in our opinion, the atomic bomb is a concept that belongs to the previous century."
Read more:http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,192...
Do people like you deny black helicopters exist? Aren't you the same ones who denied CFR existed and that the Federal Reserve was a problem? LOL!!!!!!!
I guess you forgot about them committing false flag terrorism against us or murdering Americans on the USS Liberty?
Sounds like Gates and company need to use the cone of silence.
Secretary Gates is the only one in this administration that's worth the air they breathe. If HE resigns during an election year, especially right before an election in which the democratic party could lose both houses, it will cause a major shitstorm as any potential secretary of defense will be opposed by the republican congress if he is of the same ideology as the president.
Twenty bucks covers what you have contributed just fine….remember to take your porn….they love trading that in Iran…….
When you die….A Jew is going to judge you…..How does that make you feel?…..
I think before he can resign, Gates is going to become very familiar with that Obama bus tire so many of the Presidents closest advisers have discovered.
I've seen Iarael attack only in defence. It's the Stone Age Muslims who refuse peace. Israel was INVADED by 8 MUSLIM ARMIES and DEFEATED THEM. You lost and you want your land back ? Spoils of War ! Don't Invade and you won't lose any more land. You cannot distinguish between Good and Evil and there is NO Truth in you !
He is all these things but he is still creating PERMANANT DAMAGE on America !
How can you make a choice with NO EVIDENCE ? Why has he SEALED ALL HIS RECORDS ? This mystery runs VERY DEEP and soon someone will expose him. I stll don't know who he is !
"Obama wants them to get nukes."
you say that because why?
This is Not the Way "AMERICANS" want our country RUN! Get a CLUE "BOYS" ,,,or get helt out!!
Yawn
Run out of meds again? Well back to the mens room with you to earn a few more nickles troll.
point taken.
These guys would gleefully sharpen the axe, thinking it won't be used against them.
who expects Obama to deal a hard game to his biggest campaign contributors, the Iranians, aka his puppetmasters. If ya want to deal with Iran first impeach President Oprahbama!
Israel has nukes.
Israel has attacked us.
Iran hasn't.
Who is the threat?
Your kidding right ? we are talking about soft handed politicions not Men
Damm well put
Im not sure that bus' wheels ever touch the ground
Iran Needs a bitch slap hand. I wonder if aquavelvajod would like to meet my ex wife? Im just sayin
ohhh annals…..sorry I dropped an n
hmmm are you sure its not so Obama can pick up some Arab street cred letting a few troops bask in the nuclear glow while the great O holds his hand. … Sorry but O is a nutcase he believes he is the chosen one, He will not stop until he proves that he is unprovokable. This is his great weakness, internally he knows he is easily provoked by any critisism of him. He will surrender anything (other then himself ) to prove otherwise
You know, I think you're onto something there!
Lavon Affair, USS Liberty – true
Israel refuses to sign the NNPT and is in violation of the very body that created it – the UN – TRUE
Israel refuses to define their borders – TRUE
If Obama decides to stikes Iran it will eventaully get messy & ME stuffed up. There will be significant causilties. What if American causilties starts to rise then anticipated. Who the American public will blame then. Obama is in deep shit both ways wheather he approves military action or not. Think of futures consequenses of military action before going bla bla & blaming Obamas non military action against his effort for a diplomatic solution. Even if Iran reaches NC capibility they will never have the balls to attack any nation as that will trigger their end likewise any other nation with N bomb. Just waste your money bulding them & keeping people living in fear that someday you will be vapourised by N Bomb sad sad world
Wake up call or not… I hope this does one of a few possible things.
If Obama is indeed. b.s.ing and really doesn't have interest in taking the stick to Iran… then I hope that this is a CYA from Gates. In other words, Gates is saying, Obama you can wuss out, but I'm not going to do it with you.
Alternatively, if Obama actually does intend to live up to his promises to the vast middle and strike the right toughness against Iran (including well, possible missile strikes) then the purpose this memo from Gates is to give Obama some cover from his dovey left constituency.
Either way, Obama, the voters expect to see some progress with Iran from you. The clock to 2012 is clicking.
Amen.
[...] » What’s the Meaning of Gates’s Iran Memo? – Big Government Gates is writing for the record. And when Obama’s Iran policy is publicly recognized a failure, Gates – in his memoir – will go back to the memo he wrote and claim absolution. [...]
I LIKE GATES. HE WAS A COLD WARRIOR. ALMOST BECAME THE CIA CHIEF. BET HE TALKED TO LEON AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THEY HAD TO NUDGE THE PREXY. SO WHAT? THAT'S HIS JOB. BUT I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE TRYING TO LEAD THE WHITE HOUSE GROUP, NAMELY, VALERIE, AXELROD , BAUER AND RAHM. THEY'RE A SACK OF CATS.
The memos may have only been *marked* “Top Secret” while not actually being so classified.
They were marked “Top Secret” to make sure the New York Times would publish them.
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