Gates provides a candid look at his time serving under two presidents who were presiding over two wars. A career undercover man who reached the top of his furtive profession as director of the cia from late 1991 through early 1993, gates sheds considerable light in this wideangle memoir on the ways in which the craft of intelligence influenced government policy during the height of the cold war. Bush and barack obama gates studied european history at the college. Seattle former defense secretary robert gates is in criticalbutstable condition in seattletacoma general hospital after a tragic accident in his home kitchen left him brutally stabbed multiple times, sources confirmed this morning. Former defense secretary bob gates slips, falls on knife. Senate select committee on intelligence october 24, 1991.
Its clear, from just the first few pages, that the job of the head civilian administrator of the military second to the commander in chief, that is, the president is a thoroughly political one. Bush administration 20062009, the obama administration 20092011, the afghan war, and the iraq war narrated in first person point. This post identifies some of the books highlights along that dimension. Robert gates has begun signing copies of his book for the hundreds of pentagon employees whove shown up today. Gates, who served so influentially as secretary of defense during the crucial years 20072011, deserves critical examination. Jan 19, 2014 in his memoir duty, the former defense secretary robert m. Thats not to say that gates is just trying to get the facts out there. A book signing with robert gates will follow the program. Knopf while his rivals at the white house, the state department and the pentagon loudly staked out their positions, gates held back. That uninformed people would criticize him for making a decision to allow gay scoutmasters in the face of the current legal and ethical climate is.
Robert gates memoir, duty, which will be released later this week, contains significant insights into us foreign policy and international affairs affecting our countrys national security. As the only person to rise from entrylevel analyst to director of the cia and to serve on the white house staffs of four presidents, robert gates is uniquely qualified to tell the unprecedented inside story of the cold war. Gates did not take questions from the press who showed up to cover the book signing, though he did take a quick question from someone in line who asked gates if he had become a seattle seahawks fan. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The event, part of the universitys charter day weekend activities, will begin at 5. Duty is getting out of high school and signing up for the marines because you love your country. Gates office said he still plans to promote the book in a series of appearances. Some of the following involves new information, and others involve confirmation of existing, but previously.
Duty tells a powerful and deeply personal story that allows us an unprecedented look at two administrations and the wars that have defined them. Jan 07, 2014 former defense secretary gates blasts obama in new book robert gates new memoir reveals his sharp criticism inside closeddoor meetings. Gates served in that position under obama and president george w. January 14, 2014, a strikingly candid, vividly written account of his experience serving presidents george w. The quiet fury of robert gates bush and obamas secretary of defense had to wage war in iraq, afghanistanand todays washington by robert m. The simple reason is that i wrote a biography of a senior pentagon official that gates fired in 2008 see circle of service. Does robert gates memoir hint at obamas next afghanistan.
He wears his duty, though, like a millstone around his neck. He was known as a savvy manager of the bureaucracy and a ruthlessly efficient defense secretary. This was why i could not sign onto vice president bidens preferred strategy of. With skilled, humble leadership, even the most nightmarish of bureaucracies can be reformed into an efficient and productive endeavor. Jan 10, 2014 former defence secretary robert gates is quoted as saying in his memoirs that us tried to eject afghan president in 2009 emma grahamharrison fri 10 jan 2014 08.
F ormer secretary of defense robert gates has harsh words for vice president joe bidens foreign policy judgement in his soontobereleased memoir according to. Gates office said he still plans to promote the book in. Robert gates new book is starting to leak out, and it may give president obama and his aides some heartburn. Duty by robert gates goodreads meet your next favorite book. Now secretary gates speaks for himself in his first television interview about his book. Duty is the unquestioned following of your orders and deploying to iraq or afghanistan on a mission. Gates gives us a forthright, impassioned, sometimes conflicted account of his four and a half years as defense secretary in his fascinating new memoir duty, a book that is highly.
In duty, on the other hand, robert gates gives us a pretty solid and fair account of his time in office as secretary of defense. Gates latest book is a followup to his bestselling 2014 memoir, duty. He was an officer in the united states air force and worked for more about robert m. Signing the deployment orders, visiting hospitals, writing the. Line out the door at pentagon for robert gates book that. Memoirs of a secretary at war is a nonfiction book written by robert m. Gates gives us a forthright, impassioned, sometimes conflicted account of his four and a half years as defense secretary in his fascinating new memoir duty, a book. Memoirs of a secretary at war, by robert gates, wh allen, rrp. Former secretary of defense robert gates sits down with rita braver in his first television interview since the publication of his new book. Focusing on the undeclared conflict that pitted the us against the ussr and its client. He served as secretary of defense under presidents george w. Memoirs of a secretary at war critics say former defense secretary robert gates new book takes shots at president obama and other members of his cabinet. In his memoir called duty, former united states secretary of defense robert m.
Robert gates to speak about new book during charter day. Focusing on the undeclared conflict that pitted the us against the ussr and its client states in. Gates gives us a forthright, impassioned, sometimes conflicted account of his four and a half years as defense secretary in his fascinating new memoir duty, a book that is highly revealing about decision making in both the obama and bush white houseshis writing is informed not only by a keen sense of historical context, but also by. Gates received a call from the white house in 2006. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion on duty.
Washington has been abuzz this past week over the new memoir by former secretary of defense robert gates. June 30, 2011 robert gates and president obama salute during a farewell ceremony for gates as outgoing defense secretary. Interview with charlie rose robert gates, former secretary of defense discusses his book duty. Gates will host a signing and discussion for his new book a passion for leadership. Memoirs of a secretary at war, robert gates offers listeners a behindthescenes look at his role in politics, as well as his personal efforts during the iraq and afghanistan wars. In frank and poignant vignettes, gates conveys the human cost of war, and his admiration for those brave enough to undertake it when necessary. Former secretary of defense robert gates, author of duty. In his memoir duty, the former defense secretary robert m. To judge from the pages of his book, many of his expressions of outrage were indeed motivated by selfserving bureaucrats or members of congress who. Drawing on his access to classified information and toplevel involvement in policy decisions, gates lays bare the hidden wars and operations the. Gates has much to teach about the practical idealism that represents.
Jan 07, 2014 robert gates new book is starting to leak out, and it may give president obama and his aides some heartburn. Former defense secretary gates blasts obama in new book. Jan 12, 2014 washington has been abuzz this past week over the new memoir by former secretary of defense robert gates. Former defense secretary gates blasts obama in new book us news.
Gates was here to discuss and sign copies of his new memoir, duty. Gates received a call from the white house, he thought hed long left. May 12, 2015 after serving six presidents in both the cia and the national security council, robert m. Gates is the author of duty, and a passion for leadership. Memoirs of a secretary at war by former secretary of defense robert m. Write public email to robert gates wo address, contact info. Jan 14, 2014 former secretary of defense gates doesnt exactly bare all in this politically charged memoir, but he doesnt pull many punches, either. After serving six presidents in both the cia and the national security council, robert m. Bush but was retained for service by president barack obama. Gates, in full robert michael gates, born september 25, 1943, wichita, kansas, u. Jan 07, 2014 f ormer secretary of defense robert gates has harsh words for vice president joe bidens foreign policy judgement in his soontobereleased memoir according to the new york times, which.
The former defense secretary says that obama eventually lost faith in the troop. Gates plans book tour while in neck brace usa today. Jan 24, 2014 duty memoirs of a secretary at war by robert m. He scores several points above the selfseekers out there. Us tried to oust hamid karzai by manipulating afghan.
Former defense secretary gates blasts obama in new book robert gates new memoir reveals his sharp criticism inside closeddoor meetings. Robert gates is one of the most thoughtful, honest, and compassionate men this fine country has to call upon. Memoirs of a secretary at war robert michael gates. The place to start is gates recently published book, duty.
Former defence secretary robert gates is quoted as saying in his memoirs that us tried to eject afghan president in 2009 emma grahamharrison fri 10 jan 2014 08. Bush and barack obama during the wars in iraq and afghanistan. Gates began his career serving as an officer in the united. Gates slams biden in memoir, reveals he nearly quit time. Maybe it was the strain of more than four years of signing deployment orders that he knew would lead to the deaths of more young americans. Memoirs of a secretary at war by robert gates 2014 the lessons of history by will and ariel durant 1968 the greatest raid of all by lucas phillips 1958.
Jan 03, 2014 this less than two weeks before the jan. If a 600page book about how doesnt quite get at why, then a twohour conversation in his study. It takes a candid and instructive look beyond the structural and cultural landscapes at. Bush and as secretary of defense 200611 in the administrations of presidents george w. The reinvention of robert gates by michael crowley, the new republic, november 9, 2009. Forthright and unsparing, duty is gatess behindthescenes account of his nearly five. Former secretary of defense gates doesnt exactly bare all in this politically charged memoir, but he doesnt pull many punches, either. Lecture and book signing with former secretary of defense robert gates. Gates gives us a forthright, impassioned, sometimes conflicted account of his four and a half years as defense secretary in his fascinating new memoir duty, a. Secretary of defense robert gates speaks at his final press conference at.
Among us public servants of his generation, robert gates is one of the few to command deep. In duty, gates had brushed off biden as wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and. Gates wife becky found him lying on the floor of the family kitchen and called 911, according to a family spokesperson. With iraq in a profound downward spiral and many believing that afghanistan could be next, the legacy of robert m. That was among the core messages chancellor robert m. Gates provides revelations about major decisions made from late 2006 to 2011. Gates gates feared congress might again legislate defeat, restricting funding for the surge and forcing an abrupt termination of the war. Gates believed that he had left washington politics behind for goodbut when he received the call from the white house in 2006 to help a nation mired in two wars, he answered what he felt was the call of duty. Former defense secretary robert gates says he witnessed a president making the right decisions and following the right strategy in afghanistan, but not really believing in them. Robert michael gates born september 25, 1943 is an american statesman, scholar, intelligence analyst, and university president who served as the 22nd united states secretary of defense from 2006 to 2011. Whistleblower punches a hole in memoir from robert gates. Gates in april 2011 on a visit to irbil, iraq, as secretary of defense.
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