Mike Allen
Politico
November 20, 2008
Democratic officials said they see new signs that President-elect Barack Obama will ask Defense Secretary Robert Gates to stay in his post.
- A d v e r t i s e m e n t
If Gates stays, no reconfirmation hearing would be needed, officials said.
Keeping Gates at the helm would help give Obama political cover for a gradual reduction of U.S. forces in Iraq and would enhance his relationship with Gen. David Petraeus, the former U.S. commander in Iraq and now the head of the U.S. Central Command, which includes Iraq and Afghanistan.
The officials said emissaries of the presidential transition have talked to Gates about very detailed issues like who should be the assistant secretaries, the Pentagon’s structure and his philosophy of how he runs the operation.
The questions were extremely detailed, suggesting Gates is under very serious consideration, according to the officials.
One complication is what would happen to all the Bush political appointees who now work under Gates.
Obama repeated in an interview with Steve Kroft that was aired Sunday on CBS’ “60 Minutes” that he plans to have Republicans in his Cabinet, and Gates has long been rumored to be one of the most likely.
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