Dems See New Signs GatesWill Stay -- The Politico
Democratic officials said they see new signs that President-elect Barack Obama will ask Defense Secretary Robert Gates to stay in his post.
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.
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My Comment: If Sec. Robert Gates stays as Secretary under an Obama administration, I expect him to stay there for less than a year. President Obama would want his own men in this department, and will use Sec. Gates as a transition figure during this period.