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Q Why did you decide to speak with Bob Woodward?
SEC. GATES: Well, I think I was probably the last person he spoke to. I think I was the last person he spoke to with the previous book, at the end of the Bush administration, and I think I timed it to the point where the book was already in galleys at that point.
I think that he had some specific questions about overall issues and about the strategy. We didn't get into any specifics about issues or anything like that. And I had his questions in advance, and they were sort of at the 40,000-foot level, about tone and atmosphere and the role of the president in this process. These were issues I'd spoken to publicly, and so I felt comfortable responding.
Q How do feel about the fact that classified transcripts from Situation Room briefings were shared with him? How is it really different from a WikiLeaks publication?
SEC. GATES: Well, I can't say, because I haven't read the book. And so I don't know about that. I guess I would -- I would just -- since I figured I'd -- we'd get a question on this book, there are -- there are actually three points I'd like to make.
The first is, conflict sells. The second, the relationship among senior officials in this administration is as harmonious as any I've experienced in my time in government.
And the third is -- and I believe this very strongly -- presidents are always well served when there is a vigorous and spirited debate over important issues. And I felt that the debate with respect to Afghanistan was instructive. I learned things in the course of that debate.
My positions changed, or were adjusted, or I adjusted them at various points. So I thought it was a constructive process.
Q Mr. Secretary, but, you know, American public support for the war in Afghanistan is already waning. And for them to see the kind of what appears to be divisiveness and backbiting and backstabbing in a way this policy was eventually arrived at, how can you expect the American people to have confidence, not only in the strategy but in American leadership to carry it out?
SEC. GATES: Well, I said that there was a spirited debate. People were often passionate about their views. But I will tell you that once the president made his decision, this team came together and has been working together to execute this strategy. And that was last December.
Q Do you expect another spirited debate at the review in December? I mean, it seems like many of these issues, the fundamental issues of the strategy, aren't settled. People may be behind it now, but when the next review happens, will we have a fundamental debate on the principles of how to go forward? What's December going to look like in that regard?
SEC. GATES: Well, I think just based on the things that I've heard people say, I think the evaluation that we will have in December will be, how are we doing, are we on the right path, do we need to make any adjustments to the basic strategy? I have not gotten the sense from my conversations with people that any basic decisions or basic -- basic changes are likely to occur.
I suspect that we will find some areas where we can make some adjustments and tweaks to try and enhance what's going on now. The fact is we've now got triple the number of civilians as when the president made his decision.
We've got another 30-plus-thousand -- 30,000 American troops, pretty much all in now. All of the -- as the chairman said earlier, all the inputs are there now. And now it's just a matter of executing, both on the civilian and the -- and the military side. I don't know if you want to add anything.
ADM. MULLEN: No, sir, I think -- I think you have it exactly right. I think there certainly could be some adjustments, but we think the strategy's sound. Things that we've -- a lot of things we talked about last year have changed fairly dramatically. And one of the keys has been the development of the security forces, for instance.
So it, I think, looks to how it has been implemented, you know, how we're doing against that strategy and what adjustments we will need to make, if any.
Q If I could follow up with one specific, the Woodward book makes the allegation that the two of you were upset with Lieutenant General Lute that his position that he took during the review last year was not helpful. Was that accurate? Is that book accurate in that regard? Did you make that -- did you say that to Lute?
ADM. MULLEN: (Inaudible) -- well, the secretary's already said it: He hasn't read the book; I haven't read the book either.
Q But in terms of that accusation, which seems -- (it's been blowing up ?) --
SEC. GATES: Not going there.
ADM. MULLEN: Yeah.
Q Mr. Secretary, in general terms, are books like this helpful in that they expose, you know, what we like to think of as smart people wrestling with hard questions? Or would you prefer to be operating in the dark -- (off mike)? (Laughter.)
SEC. GATES: I think the safest answer to that is no comment. (Chuckles.) |
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Name(s:) |
Robert Gates |
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Title: |
Secretary of Defense |
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Agency(ies): |
Department of Defense |
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Url: |
Url Link
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Archive: |
Archive Link
http://archive.is/9L998 |
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Title: |
Defense Department Briefing, Sep 23, 2010 |
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Author: |
Robert Gates |
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Title: |
Secretary of Defense |
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Authoring or Creator Agency: |
Department of Defense |
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