Robert Gates Confirmation

[Brandon Rhea]

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DEFENSE SECRETARY ROBERT M. GATES</div>

The United States Senate Armed Service Committee unanimously approved (21-0) Robert Gates, President George W. Bush's nominee, to be the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense on Tuesday. The nomination has now been sent to the full Senate for a vote, where he is expected to recieve a high majority of votes from the Senators who are anxious to see current Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld leave office.

When asked if the United States was winning the War in Iraq, Gates answered by saying that we are not winning and that all options for improving the situation are on the table. He also said that the War in Iraq would be his highest priority, though that was obviously to be expected.

Now, for this debate, do you believe that Secretary Rumsfeld's resignation/firing and Gate's confirmation will be a positive turn in this horrible situation, or do you think things are so far lost that no one can fix it, or a little of both?

This thread is to respectfully and maturely debate the current situation and what Robert Gates can do to change it. Don't do anything stupid, state why you agree or disagree with something and if you're going to try to convince someone of someting back up your arguments with facts.

I remind you that we will strictly follow the Rules of the Debate Room.

 

[occultus]

I think I'm gonna like this guy... firstly because I HATED Rumsfeld and anything is better than his stubbornness, but also because he is described as a man who will actually listen to advice of the military.

 

[Keanu]

anything but rumsfield is fine to me.

 

[Darth Obsidian]

This new guy scares me. He is telling the truth something must be up.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

What I like about this guy is that he is going to stand up to President Bush and tell him that he is wrong on many issues involving the United States Military. Gates is what a leader should be. You see, a leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go but ought to be. That is what makes Gates a great leader in my opinion. He is what government is supposed to be: persuasive, believable and credible, and they are all interlinked. To be persuasive we must be believable. To be believable we must be credible. To be credible we must be truthful and, so far, that is what Gates is. It will take a long time for him to right this wrong if he can, but little by little one walks far.

P.S.
The final Senate vote was 95-2. Three Senators didn't vote, and one of the two that voted against him was Rick Santorum because Santorum is a blind conservative wingnut.

 

[Darth Obsidian]

Santorum was a given to go against him who was the other guy who went against him?

 

[Ser Yorick]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Darth Obsidian @ Dec 8 2006, 05:15 PM) [snapback]135454[/snapback]</div>

This new guy scares me. He is telling the truth something must be up.
[/b]

Good point.

 

[Kalin Morne]

The truth can be a powerful weapon. If used properly.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Darth Obsidian @ Dec 8 2006, 05:30 PM) [snapback]135459[/snapback]</div>

Santorum was a given to go against him who was the other guy who went against him?
[/b]

Jim Bunning. The three that didn't vote for reasons which I do not know were Joe Biden, Evan Bayh and Elizabeth Dole.