Obama’s SecDefs Offer Brutal Assessment of the Administration

 

Bret Baier of Fox News interviewed each of President Obama’s former Secretaries of Defense. All three were brutal in their assessment of the administration’s micromanaging, poor leadership, and lack of experience.

Robert Gates, SecDef 2006-2011

“It was the operational micromanagement that drove me nuts. Of White House and NSC staffers calling senior commanders out in the field and asking them questions, of second-guessing commanders…

“I told commanders, Petraeus and others … you get a call from some White House or National Security Council staffer, you tell them to call me instead. And then tell them, ‘Oh, by the way, go to hell — and that’s directly from the Secretary of Defense.’”

Leon Panetta, SecDef 2011-2013

“Staff people try to read what is it that the President wants and then try, through the back door, to influence the direction of policy. What that does is it undermines the very process that a President needs in order to get the best discussion and information possible to be able to make the right decisions.”

Chuck Hagel, SecDef 2013-2015

“President Obama, he’s one of the youngest Presidents we’ve ever had; one of the most inexperienced Presidents we’ve ever had. He has a staff around him that is very inexperienced. I don’t think there’s one veteran on his senior staff at the White House. I don’t think there’s one businessperson. I don’t believe there’s one person who’s ever run anything. Other than Vice President Biden, none of them have ever been elected to anything.

“You must leaven the loaf, you must leaven your advisors where you get a lot of experience in different things where he, the President himself, is so inexperienced. I think he’s got to fundamentally understand — and I’m not sure he ever did, nor the people around him —
the tremendous responsibility the United States has. Not to be the world’s policemen,
but to lead and we’re the only ones who can.”

Whichever candidate winds up in the White House next January will have a hell of a mess to clean up.

Published in Foreign Policy, Military, Politics
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  1. Richard Finlay Inactive
    Richard Finlay
    @RichardFinlay

    That the Democrats backed Obama for reelection does not speak well of that party’s regard for the country.

    • #1
  2. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    I saw the program. I was very impressed by the candor yet tactfulness with which they spoke. I think Mike Flynn was the  best interviewee; he’s been telling it like it is for a while. And it’s going to get uglier. Thanks, Jon.

    • #2
  3. Richard Fulmer Inactive
    Richard Fulmer
    @RichardFulmer

    Sadly, the only person left in the race with experience is Clinton and her experience is all bad.

    • #3
  4. Cow Girl Thatcher
    Cow Girl
    @CowGirl

    Do you know that many Americans have no idea who Valerie Jarret is? Never heard of her…

    My experience with the military as the wife: no matter who the commander-in-chief is, you are respectful and you follow the chain of command. One characteristic of most military people I knew is professionalism. Even if they didn’t vote for whoever became president, they respected the office of commander-in-chief.

    These interviews are very telling–tactful, but truthful.

    • #4
  5. Klaatu Inactive
    Klaatu
    @Klaatu

    I’m simply shocked!

    • #5
  6. Metalheaddoc Member
    Metalheaddoc
    @Metalheaddoc

    Wow. What a bunch of racists. The White Devils must have been confirmed by a racist GOP Congress. Just another example of whitey trying to keep a brother down. (Is that still the standard response to Obama criticism?)

    • #6
  7. danys Thatcher
    danys
    @danys

    Oh my…

    Such tactful candor from experienced men of both parties…

    • #7
  8. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Knowing what they know, I bet they’re soiling themselves over this election.

    I have been in despair for our military men and women since 2008. Such a betrayal on the part of the electorate. I believe it is impossible to truly care for our military families and vote Democrat. It’s just unforgivable.

    Let that be a reminder to the #NeverTrumpers who promise to vote for Felony.

    Remember Benghazi (Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.). Blood and Treasure squandered at the altar of President EgO.

    • #8
  9. Klaatu Inactive
    Klaatu
    @Klaatu

    Western Chauvinist:Knowing what they know, I bet they’re soiling themselves over this election.

    I have been in despair for our military men and women since 2008. Such a betrayal on the part of the electorate. I believe it is impossible to truly care for our military families and vote Democrat. It’s just unforgivable.

    Let that be a reminder to the #NeverTrumpers who promise to vote for Felony.

    Remember Benghazi (Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.). Blood and Treasure squandered at the altar of President EgO.

    Voting for a guy who would order troops to commit war crime is no better.

    • #9
  10. KC Mulville Inactive
    KC Mulville
    @KCMulville

    Later on in the show, Gates mentioned how Obama, egged on by his aides, resisted the advice given by his professional military because Obama thought they were trying to box him in.

    This validates the story that Bob Woodward told about Obama’s relationship with Stanley McChrystal on Obama’s Wars. When trying to set the troop limit for Afghanistan, Obama demanded three options. The military had a well-known tactic of giving three options in the following way: they’d give their preferred option, then add two options which had no chance. Obama was determined not to be “tricked” by that tactic and prided himself on his ability to counter the military experts. All it really showed was that Obama would follow whatever strategy fed his ego.

    Woodward’s narrative, I thought, portrayed Obama as the defense secretaries portrayed him – as a basically inexperienced decision-maker who made decisions by his ego rather than any disciplined method. He cannot bring himself to admit his own limitations, and no doubt, his aides play him like a fiddle.

    • #10
  11. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Klaatu:

    Western Chauvinist:Knowing what they know, I bet they’re soiling themselves over this election.

    I have been in despair for our military men and women since 2008. Such a betrayal on the part of the electorate. I believe it is impossible to truly care for our military families and vote Democrat. It’s just unforgivable.

    Let that be a reminder to the #NeverTrumpers who promise to vote for Felony.

    Remember Benghazi (Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.). Blood and Treasure squandered at the altar of President EgO.

    Voting for a guy who would order troops to commit war crime is no better.

    I’m not advocating voting for Trump. I’m staking out the position that it’s immoral to vote for Felony. That’s all. Just stay home if you can’t vote for Trump. I would certainly understand that position, and may even join you.

    • #11
  12. Klaatu Inactive
    Klaatu
    @Klaatu

    Western Chauvinist:

    Klaatu:

    Western Chauvinist:Knowing what they know, I bet they’re soiling themselves over this election.

    I have been in despair for our military men and women since 2008. Such a betrayal on the part of the electorate. I believe it is impossible to truly care for our military families and vote Democrat. It’s just unforgivable.

    Let that be a reminder to the #NeverTrumpers who promise to vote for Felony.

    Remember Benghazi (Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.). Blood and Treasure squandered at the altar of President EgO.

    Voting for a guy who would order troops to commit war crime is no better.

    I’m not advocating voting for Trump. I’m staking out the position that it’s immoral to vote for Felony. That’s all. Just stay home if you can’t vote for Trump. I would certainly understand that position, and may even join you.

    I have already mentioned, I plan to write in James Lileks.

    • #12
  13. Chuck Grady Member
    Chuck Grady
    @ChuckGrady

    One may argue that these men and others of principle did more good by staying on and attempting to steer their bureaucracies in a positive direction in spite of an incompetent, inexperienced and willful chief executive.   And quitting offers a path fraught with personal difficulties.  But I will be forever miffed and disappointed by the utter absence of principled resignations by key leaders, particularly in the national security and defense establishments, over the conduct of Obama’s foreign policy.

    • #13
  14. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.: Whichever candidate winds up in the White House next January will have a hell of a mess to clean up.

    Understatement of the year.

    • #14
  15. Steve C. Member
    Steve C.
    @user_531302

    Ah, the illusion of choice. Most senior officers are experienced enough to accept that usually almost always the options, or to use professional argot, the “courses of action”, are typically variations of the obvious central facts of the decision. Mission Enemy Terrain Time and Troops, METT-T. Rarely, if ever, does one witness a stroke of creativity that leaves all the planners gob smacked. Even Schwarzkopf’s End Run in 1991 was obvious, a traditional flanking move, albeit on a grand scale. The trick wasn’t sending VII Corps into Iraq, it was the operational security that denied the enemy any inkling that they were going to be enveloped by the largest formation of tanks since the Battle of Kursk.

    The Presidents job is to provide the strategic goal, the WHAT. Then it’s just a question resources, the HOW.

    • #15
  16. Ball Diamond Ball Member
    Ball Diamond Ball
    @BallDiamondBall

    These guys get a lot smarter once the retirement checks start rolling.  Who knew?

    • #16
  17. Wolverine Inactive
    Wolverine
    @Wolverine

    Why is it that only Republican administrations have people working within it that write tell-all books that embarrass the administration? I know there are exceptions seems like it is more common with Republicans, perhaps knowing that the MSM will give them alot of attention and praise for “being brave”. I just hope we get the inside scoop about this current administration once Obama is out of office.

    • #17
  18. Chris Campion Coolidge
    Chris Campion
    @ChrisCampion

    The discussion about how meetings are organized sounds like a minor anecdote, but it’s telling.  The reason you have meetings, generally, is to:

    a) provide a status update of whatever’s going on.

    b) make a decision

    That’s it.  Inexperienced people host and hold meetings but without a defined agenda, and the right person hosting the meeting, it’ll devolve into meta-discussion, and another meeting gets scheduled.

    The meeting becomes the “work”, when the real work should be done outside of the meeting, summarized, and ticked off so either an update is given, a decision is made, or both.

    I’m guessing Barry’s meetings result in a ton of action items, sending staff scurrying, until the next meeting, when more action items are given, and staff are sent scurrying…..

    Lather.  Rinse.  Repeat.  This also has the neat side effect of the “leader” feeling like things are getting done because everyone is so busy with meetings, etc.  When almost nothing is actually being done, in terms of moving a project or policy forward in any meaningful way.

    An example:  Gitmo.

    • #18
  19. CB Toder aka Mama Toad Member
    CB Toder aka Mama Toad
    @CBToderakaMamaToad

    Susan Quinn:I saw the program. I was very impressed by the candor yet tactfulness with which they spoke. I think Mike Flynn was the best interviewee; he’s been telling it like it is for a while. And it’s going to get uglier. Thanks, Jon.

    Here’s the whole original report. **Edit: sorry, wrong link. I’ll delete. **

    I think Bret Baier rocks, btw.

    • #19
  20. Larry3435 Inactive
    Larry3435
    @Larry3435

    Western Chauvinist: Let that be a reminder to the #NeverTrumpers who promise to vote for Felony.

    I respectfully disagree, WC.  Obama is a cautionary tale, in fact the cautionary tale, about what happens when you elect a commander in chief who is arrogant, narcissistic, believes he knows more than anyone else about everything, and surrounds himself with yes-men.  I think that is also a perfect description of Trump.

    The narcissism problem is compounded, in Trump’s case, by his thin skin and hair trigger temper, which causes him to lash out at anyone who fails to flatter his ego.  We’ve seen it over and over during the campaign – most recently in his insane statement after losing the Wisconsin primary.  So long as Trump’s finger is only on the button of his twitter account, that is merely an embarrassment.  But put his finger on the military chain of command (not to mention the nuclear button) and it is terrifying to think what he might do.

    Obama is a horrible commander in chief not because he is a Democrat, but because he is a horrible person.  So is Trump.  A horrible, horrible human being.  For all of Hillary’s flaws, it seems to me that she at least listens to advice and has a modicum of caution.

    • #20
  21. Johnny Dubya Inactive
    Johnny Dubya
    @JohnnyDubya

    They say that journalism is the first draft of history.  Interviews such as this, and the one of Obama by Jeffrey Goldberg, are the first “second drafts”.  And they are not pretty.  Obama’s saying to Goldberg that he was “proud” not to have enforced his own “red line” in Syria will not be judged favorably by historians.

    The Clinton White House was also filled with young, inexperienced, immature aides.  These were, after all, the folks who pried the Ws off their keyboards.  It seems there is fetishization of youth by Democrats.

    • #21
  22. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Larry3435:

    I agree Trump is a high stakes gamble. But, the Clintons are notoriously disdainful of military men and women. And Felony stood over the bodies of the slain, and baldfaced lied to their families about an internet filmmaker being responsible for their deaths. The Clintons don’t give a rip about military families. They only care about what advances the Clintons.

    I’m not 100% sure that’s the case with Trump. Oh, yeah, he’s one of the world’s best self-promoters — one of the best? — the best! But, he may retain just enough of his humanity to have some fellow-feeling for people in the military. It’s possible.

    Not possible with Clinton.

    • #22
  23. Ron Selander Member
    Ron Selander
    @RonSelander

    Western Chauvinist,

    “I’m not advocating voting for Trump. I’m staking out the position that it’s immoral to vote for Felony. That’s all. Just stay home if you can’t vote for Trump. I would certainly understand that position, and may even join you.”

    I submit that it would be just as immoral to stay home. Have you forgotten that we have Congressional races and State races – not “just” a POTUS race?

    • #23
  24. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Ron Selander:Western Chauvinist,

    “I’m not advocating voting for Trump. I’m staking out the position that it’s immoral to vote for Felony. That’s all. Just stay home if you can’t vote for Trump. I would certainly understand that position, and may even join you.”

    I submit that it would be just as immoral to stay home. Have you forgotten that we have Congressional races and State races – not “just” a POTUS race?

    I was speaking metaphorically. But, you’re right, to be entirely clear, vote the rest of the ballot, but if your conscience doesn’t allow you to vote for Trump, leave that part of the ballot unmarked rather than vote for Clinton.

    The Left and the Democrats (but, I repeat myself) are destroying this country. I see no rationale for voting for that.

    • #24
  25. Ball Diamond Ball Member
    Ball Diamond Ball
    @BallDiamondBall

    Ron Selander:Western Chauvinist,

    “I’m not advocating voting for Trump. I’m staking out the position that it’s immoral to vote for Felony. That’s all. Just stay home if you can’t vote for Trump. I would certainly understand that position, and may even join you.”

    I submit that it would be just as immoral to stay home. Have you forgotten that we have Congressional races and State races – not “just” a POTUS race?

    That was of course in the context of somebody who professed to vote for Hillary over the Republican nominee.  Follow the bouncing ball, or it will get away from you.

    • #25
  26. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    That video clip in itself should label Obama as the worst president in our nation’s history.  The evidence is all over the place.

    • #26
  27. MLH Inactive
    MLH
    @MLH

    Is it typical to have 2 Sec Def per term?

    • #27
  28. The Cloaked Gaijin Member
    The Cloaked Gaijin
    @TheCloakedGaijin

    I remember when Dennis Miller had his radio show that he had a very low opinion of Bob Gates.  While Dennis, a mere comedian, was traveling the country trying to get Mitt Romney elected, Gates would not say one bad thing about Obama.  I guess Gates wanted to keep his insider status.  As soon as Obama is re-elected, Gates starts to upload.  I think Dennis had the same feeling about Joe Lieberman during the Clinton administration.  Lieberman would constantly criticize Clinton, but he always supported him in the end.  Wasn’t that the old Pat Moynihan voting strategy too?

    Now Gates wants to turn the Boy Scouts of America into a bad canteen boy sketch from Saturday Night Live?  That was a skit that Alec Baldwin and Adam Sandler played for laughs just a few years ago.  I thought after the Catholic priest pedophile abuse scandal that a few adults would learn to stand up to political correct insanity in an effort to protect children.

    Gates is not considered a brave man by me.

    • #28
  29. David Williamson Inactive
    David Williamson
    @DavidWilliamson

    Their judgement in agreeing to work for Mr Obama is questionable – did they expect something different?

    Maybe they were impressed by the crease in his pants.

    • #29
  30. tigerlily Member
    tigerlily
    @tigerlily

    Wolverine:Why is it that only Republican administrations have people working within it that write tell-all books that embarrass the administration? I know there are exceptions seems like it is more common with Republicans, perhaps knowing that the MSM will give them alot of attention and praise for “being brave”. I just hope we get the inside scoop about this current administration once Obama is out of office.

    I think you answered your own question. People who write tell-all or negative books during a Republican administration become media darlings & get great book reviews. If it were to happen during a Democrat administration, the opposite would be the case.

    • #30
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