“I would confess I’m no expert on Iraq.”
By on Jan 12th, 2007 at 11:18 am
“I would confess I’m no expert on Iraq.”
– Defense Secretary Robert Gates, during congressional hearings yesterday. “Later, asked about reaching the right balance between American and Iraqi forces, he told the panel he was ‘no expert on military matters.‘”
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Then he will fit in perfectly with his boss, who we all know to be no expert on anything.
January 12th, 2007 at 11:22 amOf course not. Why would we need an expert on these matters in his position?
Signed,
January 12th, 2007 at 11:23 amMichael Brown, former FEMA director
So, shouldn’t Congress start impeachment hearing for DoSec Gates. Now. He either lied to Congress or is not competent to protect the men and women of this country currently under his control.
January 12th, 2007 at 11:24 amJust another Bush family thug.
January 12th, 2007 at 11:25 amUh, the bright side is, that he admits he is human and is capable of making a mistake. That’s progress to me.
January 12th, 2007 at 11:28 amNeither was Rumsfeld.
Knowledge is not a criterion for high office in this cuntry.
January 12th, 2007 at 11:29 amU.S. GOVERNMENT IS A SHAM/FARCE.
These corrupt *ssholes are no different than the Mafia.
It’s in the Constitution. We have the RIGHT to overthrow our Government when we deem necessary.
Any of you blow-hards willing to give up your cushy, comfy lives in order to save our Democracy? Doubtful.
But we sure are brave about our positions from the anonymity of the net, hmm?
January 12th, 2007 at 11:32 amYou miss the point.
BUSH is the expert on Iraq.
BUSH is the expert on military matters.
Only room in the henhouse for one rooster, boys!
If you go looking for OTHER experts, they might offer a DIFFERENT opinion.
And that would be bad.
January 12th, 2007 at 11:32 amHey there, #7 — where will you be holding your “Let’s Overthrow the Gubbermint” meeting tonight.
Should I bring the beer this time?
You ARE hosting a meeting, right?
Otherwise what you posted is just so much bullshit.
Right?
January 12th, 2007 at 11:33 amHe is an expert on Iran.
Capisce?
January 12th, 2007 at 11:35 amOh, he sounds perfect for the job…
January 12th, 2007 at 11:35 amSecretary of Defense claims he is ‘no expert on military matters’…!! He was confirmed almost by every Senator,but few. I hope he is the right man. At least he is honest about it..you will never hear this from Rumsfeld..Interesting.
January 12th, 2007 at 11:36 amComment by DieNowForPeace — January 12, 2007 @ 11:32 am
Be reasonable DNFP. Surely you do not expect people who did not stand up to protect their own Rights and Freedoms to stand up to protect their country, do you?
January 12th, 2007 at 11:37 amThose quotes are scary stuff. He is our Defense sec. right? Ouch.
January 12th, 2007 at 11:38 amNothing like having a guy leading the military who has no idea about the military.
I’d love to say I’m surprised.
January 12th, 2007 at 11:39 amWel lhe may be clueless but he’s loyal to the Dictator and that’s all that is important. Heil Bush!
January 12th, 2007 at 11:43 amPundit,
You bring you “imaginary” truck and I’ll host your “gubbermint” party.
On second thought, please, dumbass, knee-jerk redneck inbreds are NOT INVITED.
Your just too “ignernt” (like Shrub) and would just f*ck everything up.
LET ME RE-PHRASE: blowing smoke up someones ass with an opinion is not why I come here, but that’s all we seem to get, are a bunch of old WHINY ladies, who would NEVER fight for Democracy if it meant they might go to jail.
PUSSIES.
I’m sick of hearing COWARDS TALK THE TALK, but then disappear when it’s nut-cutting time. Just look at the lame anti-war rallies we’ve had – PITIFUL, FEEBLE.
PUT UP OR SHUT UP.
January 12th, 2007 at 11:43 amThis is the way this misadministration works, if you don’t know shit about the military then you become Secretary of Defense. Heck of a job Gates! Even though you don’t know what you’re doing. Thanks Dubya , you jackass.
January 12th, 2007 at 11:44 amYou’re forgetting the job interview process for any important official regarding the Iraq War.
What they don’t ask: Are you an expert in the area?
What they do ask: Should Roe v Wade be overturned?
Answer no to the first question, and yes to the second question, and you’ll be in charge of rebuilding Iraq’s electrical grid!
Thanks for playing.
January 12th, 2007 at 11:49 amPUT UP OR SHUT UP.
Comment by DieNowForPeace
Um, Trucker Pundit is a parody…
January 12th, 2007 at 11:50 amOf course, Gates is “no expert on Iraq”….that’s Bush’s MO – put the LEAST qualified guy in the job and then use him as the “fall guy” when things tank! Pretty slick moves, eh? The people are getting the shaft once again as someone who admits publicly that he doesn’t have a clue on Iraq is put into position as Secy of Defense. Bush can’t even properly execute a simple personnel job selection – how can we expect him to handle the entire country? It’s clear that he cannot and has bungled everything he’s touched – The Anti Midas Touch is Bush’s legacy! Impeach this capricious cowboy now!
January 12th, 2007 at 11:54 amBut I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express.
-Robert Gates
January 12th, 2007 at 11:56 amLater, asked about reaching the right balance between American and Iraqi forces, he told the panel he was ‘no expert on military matters.‘â€
**************************************
Well, in light of the fact that he’s the newly-appointed Secretary of Defense, he’d better become an expert in military matters right quick if he knows what’s good for him!
For the love of all that’s sacred…what will it take for the Bush administration to actually put someone in office who deserves to be there and is actually qualified for the job?!?!
January 12th, 2007 at 11:59 amNo, no, no, no, no! you guys got it all wrong he’s secretary of defence. that is defence while playing basketball. Imo, very tough to post up against.
January 12th, 2007 at 11:59 amIt’s just about the most pathetic thing I’ve ever heard. What the f*** has happened to the US that this guy isn’t laughed out of Washington??
January 12th, 2007 at 11:59 amFirst Rumsfeld and now this idiot. How about making Gen John Abizaid Sec. of Defense. At least he knows about Iraq.
Oh Wait! That would be the sane thing to do, and we know the Decider is insane.
January 12th, 2007 at 12:20 pm“Heck of a job Robbie”
January 12th, 2007 at 12:34 pmDont worry. It has happened before.
January 12th, 2007 at 12:40 pm“I would confess I’m no expert on Iraq.†– DOH!!
he told the panel he was ‘no expert on military matters. – DOOOOHH!!
January 12th, 2007 at 12:49 pmAs much as I can’t stand the administration, as much as I disagree with all of their policies and actions; I have to say, hearing this man admit that he is no expert is a breathe of fresh air.
At least he admits it. At least he knows, is not in denial, and we can hope that he will use his knowledge of his own knowledge as motivation to BECOME the expert.
One of the biggest things a person can do is admit “I don’t know what I don’t know.”
January 12th, 2007 at 12:56 pmI still can’t get over the fact that 95 senators approved this guy.
January 12th, 2007 at 1:00 pmThat is why he got the job. That, and nobody else would take it — with the possible exception of Mike “heckava job” Brown.
On another subject, just take a look at Bush’s job approval numbes at Rasmussen’s daily tracking poll. Hint, he is down 9% in the 2 days since the speech that was supposed to turn things around.
http://rasmussenreports.com/Bush_Job_Approval.htm
January 12th, 2007 at 1:13 pmActually, now that I think about it, I can see that there actually is method to the madness of appointing Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense despite the fact that he’s “no expert on military matters”. It’s a very twisted and self-absorbed method — but it is a method nonetheless.
It’s by no means a secret to anyone who’s observed Bush with a halfway critical eye over the last five-odd years that he has little or no patience or tolerance for people who tell him anything he doesn’t want to hear. That’s the very reason why the situation in Iraq is in the mess that it is…because Bush didn’t want to listen to the experts who told him to put more troops on the ground right from the start. There’s never a particularly good time to put someone in that post who apparently intends to learn the job by the seat of his pants, but one of the worst times to do that is when you’re in the middle of a war! One would be inclined to think that a better choice than Gates for Secretary of Defense would be someone who’s more of an expert on Iraq and about military matters — surely there must be someone…?
Or is there?
Perhaps the $250,000 question is…is it really likely that Bush would see eye-to-eye with someone like that? Odds are that he wouldn’t — especially considering that most of the people who should know are saying that Bush’s proposed surge (escalation, augmentation, whatever) is a bad idea.
January 12th, 2007 at 1:17 pmHe is an expert on Iran.
Capisce?
Comment by Dumb_Fox — January 12, 2007 @ 11:35 am
Based on that, I don’t know whether to be slightly relieved, or just plain terrified. On the one hand, if he’s an expert on Iran, he may be able to at least provide good information and opinion to the administration; on the second hand, it seems all too clear that Bush is about to attack Iran, or to do his best to provoke Iran to attack us.
We have to stop this NOW. I hope that the march in Washington on the 27th is not too late.
January 12th, 2007 at 1:28 pmIs anyone in this administration an expert in anything besides staying on the president’s good side and making money under the table?
Is there?
January 12th, 2007 at 1:37 pmHe is another soldier for the Bush Crime Family.
January 12th, 2007 at 1:44 pmPoppy is the Don, and Dubya is Alfredo.
I play a lot of wargames in my comp, can I have half the pay of Mister Gates being his counselor?
January 12th, 2007 at 1:47 pmHey, at least he was honest…
January 12th, 2007 at 2:21 pmIf I declare myself a Republican, can I have a 300,000 dollar a year job that doesn’t require as much work as it does golf, and be absolved from any responsibility from anything, and quit after 6 months with a generous severance package? Where can I sign up for that? When did bullshit arrangements like that become “the American way of life” in government and the private sector? Why do so many dumb, average people think they have to let that go on just to maintain their own seedy standards of living?? How low has the public’s self-esteem sunk, that they should feel so very, very un-equal to other citizens?? HFS!!
January 12th, 2007 at 2:30 pmHe was one of the members of the Iraq Study Group, remember? How can he possibly say he doesn’t really know that much about Iraq?
January 12th, 2007 at 2:34 pmI don’t know about anyone here, but speaking for myself, I never got a job I was unqualified for.
January 12th, 2007 at 2:34 pm“Rah rah ree, kick ‘em in the knee. Rah rah ras, kicka ‘em in dee ass,!” said Gates to the panel. Go team!
January 12th, 2007 at 3:00 pmAt least the new military commander in Iraq is an expert on Vietnam.
January 12th, 2007 at 3:11 pmUsually, this would be the red flag, deal breaker, the warning sign during the interview process. “Sure I like to work with people, what’s so hard sunni, shia don’t they all look a like?”
January 12th, 2007 at 3:37 pm“As many as a dozen Republican senators could jump ship on the plan”.
Do you think Bush considered this when he asked for dems and repubs to work together? I’m loving this.
January 12th, 2007 at 3:39 pmHe’s already doin a heckuva job, Bobbie!
January 12th, 2007 at 4:22 pmWell. Gates has certainly got my confidence!!
January 12th, 2007 at 5:11 pmAnother well placed Bushista. Helluva job.
[...] Posted in Bush Administration at 5:00 pm by LeisureGuy Maybe it’s the Age of the Incompetence. From ThinkProgress: “I would confess I’m no expert on Iraq.†– Defense Secretary Robert Gates, during congressional hearings yesterday. “Later, asked about reaching the right balance between American and Iraqi forces, he told the panel he was ‘no expert on military matters.Ԡ[...]
January 12th, 2007 at 7:57 pmKnowledge is not a criterion for high office in this cuntry.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire
But lack of knowledge is.
January 12th, 2007 at 10:49 pmWhat world amI living in. Is up down? Is left right? It seems to me you need the smart people on top. So why do we have these people on top who ADMIT THEIR OWN STUPIDITY?! What happened to accountability? Have we forgotten the meaning? Have we lost the last man on earth who understood such a lengthy word? You see, what should happen is this, soon as someone with power over others fesses up that he’s a fool, he should be fired and punished for the grave dangers he brought upon his fellowmen.
January 13th, 2007 at 6:14 am