Diane Rehm Interviews Angry Robert Gates Re:"Duty: Memoirs Of A Secretary At War"

Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates walks from an Osprey aircraft after landing at Forward Operating Base Dwyer, June 5, 2011 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

(Photo by Jason Reed - Pool/Getty Images)

Audio File: http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-01-16/former-defense-secretary-robert-gates-duty-memoirs-secretary-war

Thursday, January 16, 2014 

Robert Gates is making headlines with his new book, "Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War." Known for his poker face, the former defense secretary has published a strikingly candid account of his years of service under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. The book offers an unprecedented peek into the inner workings of government during some of its most intense debates about national security. These include discussions over the surges in Iraq and Afghanistan and whether or not to set timetables for withdrawal.

Related Items

Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War

Read An Excerpt at http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-01-16/former-defense-secretary-robert-gates-duty-memoirs-secretary-war

User Comment:

Tom 

• 3 days ago

• −

I am a Marine officer about to deploy to Afghanistan for my fifth deployment. I have had a hard time explaining to my men the the purpose of our mission there - and that was before excerpts of your book were published. Now I must contend with the fact that many of them believe that their commander in chief does not believe in the mission for which they are being asked to risk their lives. 
I was a long time admirer of you, Mr. Gates. I have to say that I am deeply disappointed in your decision to have this book talked about at this time. You are smart enough to have known the adverse effect that his would have on the morale of men who are going into harm's way. Why did you choose now to write a tell-all book? Despite what the country may think, we are still deploying to this war. If you truly cared about "doing the right thing" for the troops, you would have waited a year or two to write this book.
Tom
Camp Pendleton CA