While gates didnt keep a diary himself, he was able. Author gates then spent four and a half years as secretary of defense under both presidents bush and obama. Bush administration 20062009, the obama administration 20092011, the afghan war, and the iraq war. Gates, who served so influentially as secretary of defense during the crucial years 20072011, deserves critical examination. From the former secretary of defense, a strikingly candid, vividly written account of his experience serving presidents george w. A similar position, called either secretary at war or secretary of war, had been appointed to serve the congress of the confederation under the articles of confederation between 1781 and 1789. Jan 12, 2014 former secretary of defense robert gates sits down with rita braver in his first television interview since the publication of his new book, duty. Jan 09, 2014 in his fascinating new memoir duty, former defense secretary robert m. Gates has always wanted to have it both ways, often been wrong on major issues, been prone to exaggerate his own reputation, demean others, and avoid blame for his own mistakes. Memoirs of a secretary at war is a nonfiction book written by robert m. Memoirs of a secretary at war book from the former secretary of defense, a strikingly candid, vividly written account of his experience serving presidents george w. Gates was a truly historic secretary of defenseprecisely because. This is a report upon reliminary examination, provided for by the river and harbor act of k. Gates directs most of his ire at congress and the pentagon bureaucracy.
Jan 08, 2014 the obama administration has no real desire to force the fall of the assad regime this wasnt true for the first two years of the war, but it is now, given that the most combat capable of the antiassad rebels are the same people who just took fallujah and a sudden collapse of the regime will not end the war. Memoirs of a secretary at war is a valuable work by a unique public figure. Duty tells a powerful and deeply personal story that allows us an unprecedented look at two administrations and the wars that have defined them. Gates provides revelations about major decisions made from late 2006 to 2011. David gregory moderator is the moderator of nbcs meet the press.
Above all, i had to send young men and women in harms way. The place to start is gates recently published book, duty. As larry korb, a former assistant secretary of defense in the reagan administration and currently a senior fellow at the center for american progress, wrote in a stinging critique of duty. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Former secretary of defense robert gates sits down with rita braver in his first television interview since the publication of his new book. Originated in the early 19th century as a clerk in the office of the secretary of war, known prior to 1853 as the agent or disbursing agent of the war department, whose function was to make all payments to the civil establishment of the department. His memoir of that time duty, memoirs of a secretary at war covers the bureaucratic. Former secretary of defense robert gates sits down with rita braver in his first television interview since the publication of his new book, duty. Gates, is a noholdsbarred, candid account of the operation of the department of defense dod and of the deliberations of the cabinet and national security apparatus under presidents george w. Duty is gatess behindthescenes account of his nearly five years as a secretary of defense at war. S qpoateftbe nameofm offerorpeoncontained therein, the amountpaidain all reepecte, forandonhis account,for thealyearendingtune 30,18538. This, his second memoir, covers the period he served as secretary of defense in the george w.
Memoirs of a secretary at war reprint by gates, robert m isbn. Gates posted on august 26, 2014 by rhapsodyinbooks duty, by robert m. As a former air force lieutenant, cia analyst, national security council staffer, director of the cia, fifthlongest serving. His memoir of that time duty, memoirs of a secretary at war covers the bureaucratic wars he went through, the difficulties he had with the military, and various challenges the united states faced, most importantly the wars in iraq and afghanistan. Memoirs of a secretary at wara strikingly candid account of his experience serving as secretary of defense under both president george w. Robert michael gates from the former secretary of defense, a candid account of his experience. No doubt, some of the key players during gates tenure as secretary, dec. As soldiers would put it, i had too many rocks in my rucksack.
Secretary at war definition is the representative of the army in the british parliament until 1855. Memoirs of a secretary at war, is more than a rough first draft of the history he witnessed or a laundry list of duties performed as secretary of defense to presidents george w. What emerges, however, is a much more nuanced and even sympathetic portrait of a very complicated and surprisingly emotional man. Biography, non fiction, history, politics, war, military, autobiography, memoir, leadership, military history. Bush administration 20062009, the obama administration 20092011, the afghan war, and the iraq war narrated in first person point of view, this.
Secretary at war definition of secretary at war by merriam. Nowhere in this book does gates forget to remind us he served in the department of defense when the u. Some readers will approach this volume with a great deal of skepticism. Bush and barack obama during the wars in iraq and afghanistan. His most major incites come from the handling of those two conflicts. Bush and obamas secretary of defense had to wage war in iraq, afghanistanand todays washington by robert m. In this engaging and candid memoir of his time as u. His memoir, duty, details decision making in both those administrations. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple faq for additional information.
Secretary of defense and 2011 liberty medal recipient robert m. He had to explain that even a nofly zone starts with an act of war. Records of the office of the secretary of war national archives. Memoirs of a secretary at war ndu press national defense. The secretary of war was a member of the united states presidents cabinet, beginning with george washingtons administration. We are a participant in the amazon services llc associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide. Gates returns to the national constitution center to unveil his latest book, duty. Bush and barack obama administrations during 20062011. That quote frames what i believe to be the cathartic reasons that gates wrote this book.
Memoirs of a secretary at war free pdf, djvu, doc, txt. Appointment of a disbursing clerk authorized by an act of march 3, 1853 10 stat. Memoirs of a secretary at war, will help analysts with the task of understanding the internal factors that affect us security policies. Not a secretary of defense, but a secretary at war.