robert gates
Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense
resources
Department of Defense 2010 Budget
Department of Defense Mission Statement
Gates' Defense Bio
Secret Arms Transfers to Saddam Hussein
Howard Teicher Sworn Affidavit
Manipulating Intelligence Reports
Gates Lobbies for War Funding
transcript
President Obama surprised a lot of people when he decided to keep Robert Gates to head the Department of Defense. One of the highest funded government departments; it has a 2010 budget that will be the highest in its history: $533 billion! The stated purpose of the DoD is to provide the military with the power needed to deter war and protect the security of the country.
Secretary Gates worked in the CIA for 25 years and has been awarded with numerous medals for his intelligence service. He has served in some capacity for every president since Richard Nixon but it hasn't been without controversy.
While working for Ronald Reagan, he was implicated in a cover-up of the administration's crimes. A sworn affidavit by Howard Teicher, one of Reagan's National Security Council officials, asserted that Gates "engaged in secret arms transfers to Saddam Hussein's regime during the 1980s, which violated the Arms Export Control Act." Gates was never held accountable for his illegal misconduct.
Robert was also called out for doctoring intelligence reports to suit the White House's political needs. In the book "Failure of Intelligence: The Decline and Fall of the CIA" former CIA analyst Melvin Goodman called Gates out for deliberately exaggerating Soviet military expenditures. Gates was attempting to justify President Reagan's campaign against the Soviet Union and his dramatic increase in U.S. defense spending.
Gates succeeded Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld under George W. Bush. He became known as a champion and defender of "troop surges" in both Iraq and Afghanistan. And now as Obama's Defense Secretary he continues to prolong our wars. The recent passage of $106 billion war funding bill could not have been possible without his and Hillary Clinton's tenacious lobbying efforts.
It is worth noting that Gates sat on the Board of Directors for the Parker Drilling Company, which provides oil drilling services all over the world, including the Middle East. Gates has conflicts of interest across the board and a history of deception at the highest levels of government. His career has been based around keeping secrets and the perpetuation of deadly and costly wars. We Americans need to ask ourselves: do we want a Department of Offense or a Department of Defense?
After seeing how Obama's administration appointees are working for corporate interests and the military industrial complex, perhaps a better campaign slogan for Obama might have been "shortchange." We the people deserve more from our leaders. Our best interests must come before the big corporations pulling the strings of government, but this can only happen if people like you get involved! So how will you make a difference? Thanks for watching YOURNETWORK, see you soon.
