Robert Gates Says He'll Leave Pentagon By End Of 2011 -- CBS News
Defense Secretary Robert Gates says that he may leave his job possibly as early as January but certainly by the end of 2011, Foreign Policy Magazine reports.
"It would be a mistake to wait until January 2012," Gates said in an interview. "This is not the kind of job you want to fill in the spring of an election year."
Read more ....
More News On Secretary Of Gates Retiring Next Year
Gates plans to retire next year -- AP
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to retire; says '2011 sounds pretty good' -- New York Daily News
Robert Gates to retire from defense post next year -- Christina Science Monitor
US Defense Secretary to Step Down in 2011 -- Voice of America
Gates to Leave Pentagon by End of 2011 -- FOX News
Robert Gates announces plan to step down as US defence secretary next year -- The Guardian
Robert Gates to leave in 2011 -- or not -- Politico
Gates' departure could derail Defense reforms -- Government Executive
Gates Gone? Not So Fast… (Updated) -- The Danger Room
Why would Defense Secretary Robert Gates want to retire? -- Christian Science Monitor
Gates retiring? Don't bet on it. -- Washington Post
The Robert Gates Clock Is Ticking (Or Maybe Not) -- Time Magazine
What Took Him So Long? -- Newsweek
My Comment: 2011 is a long time from now .... anything from now to then can happen.
Update: A must read article and profile of Sec. of Defense Gates at Foreign Policy.