“Robert Gates became the Deputy Director of the CIA in April, 1986, after a meteoric rise in the Agency,” Wellstone said. “His confirmation hearings provided ample and credible evidence that, as the Deputy Director, he repeatedly skewed intelligence to promote the world view of his mentor and his boss, William Casey. Analysts specializing in the Soviet Union, Latin America, Africa, and

scientific affairs, came forward--some at risk to their careers in the agency--to provide examples. The record further strongly suggests that Robert Gates supported--passively or actively--terribly misguided or illegal covert operations, including the diversion of funds to the Nicaraguan Contras obtained through the sale of arms to Iran. He also had a hand in hiding some of the details of these covert operations from Congress. Lastly, the record showed that Robert Gates crossed the line from independent intelligence-gathering into high-profile policymaking when he gave speeches advocating an unyielding line toward the Soviet Union and deployment of a star wars missile defense system.”

“My questions regarding whether or not Robert Gates participated in the politicization of intelligence culminate in my deep concern about what we can expect from Robert Gates if he is confirmed as the next Director of Central Intelligence,” Daschle said. “Again, I ask my colleagues, if Robert Gates cooked the books to advocate the ideological position of the administration while serving as Deputy Director for Intelligence and Deputy Director of Central Intelligence, is it possible that U.S. intelligence under his guidance will continue to politicize intelligence? My answer is, ‘We cannot afford to take that chance.’”

Congress must now decide whether it can afford to take another chance on Robert Gates.

http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2006/11/Gates%20Files.html

Gates was George Bush's choice to succeed Donald Rumsfeld as Secretary of Defense. photo by Paul Morse

Robert Gates should not be US Secretary of Defense

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The Wordsmith Collection Robert Gates should not be retained as Defense Secretary. Mr. Gates has a troubling track record. He has misled the American people, lied to the commander-in-chief, and intentionally misled congress. In this behavior he has operated outside the law and undermined American security interests.
At this critical time we need competent, honest, and credible leaders. Robert Gates, according to the testimony of Mel Goodman and others, regularly "spins" intelligence to fit his own political agenda. This "politicized intelligence has put him in conflict with the Secretary of State, the Senate, and has done great harm to our intelligence community.

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Notes: thepetitionsite.com/1/Tell-Barack-Obama-that-Robert-Gates-has-got-to-go

Robert Gates should not be US Secretary of Defense

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