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Home Front: Politix
Gates has an enemy in Webb
2006-11-12
Robert Novak

One reason for hurrying Senate confirmation of Robert Gates as secretary of defense through the lame-duck session of Congress is to avoid confrontation with an old enemy: James Webb, who will be a Democratic senator from Virginia in the new Congress starting in January.

During President Reagan's second term, Gates and Webb clashed as colleagues. Webb as secretary of the Navy objected to plans by Gates, then deputy national security adviser, for U.S. warships to protect oil platforms in the Persian Gulf. The hot-tempered Webb made clear his irritation with the soft-spoken Gates.

Considering his background, Webb is likely to go on the Senate Armed Services Committee. The White House wants to confirm Gates before Webb is sworn in.
Posted by:Steve White

#4  Let bygones be bygones. People grow and mature. He was not making the desisions at the time. I'll give him a slack. Not much, but some. Many of us woke up 9/11, being in the dreamland all the time before. I had an earlier epiphany, but different people have a different threshold.
Posted by: twobyfour   2006-11-12 17:15  

#3  Bush Sr aarried a big stick back in the first sandbox, but refused to use it. Left us sitting on the Euphrates and elt the Shia and Swamp Arabs get slaughtered within sight of US forces.
Posted by: OldSpook   2006-11-12 17:06  

#2  Well, I wouldn't mind if he speaks softly as long as he would carry a big stick. If that is not the case, I do mind.
Posted by: twobyfour   2006-11-12 03:49  

#1  the soft-spoken Gates

Yeah, he was really soft-spoken when Saddam massacred the rebelling Shias and Kurds after GWI...
Posted by: Pappy   2006-11-12 00:13  

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