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Robert Gates: The soldiers' secretary

May 15, 2011 5:00 PM

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in his first interview since the killing of Osama bin Laden. Katie Couric also traveled with the secretary on a five-day mission to the Middle East that included a stop in Iraq.

Robert Gates: The soldiers' secretary

60 Minutes OverTimeDefense Sec. Robert Gates plays a round of word association

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by rpeace93101 May 16, 2011 3:31 PM EDT
Thank You SecDef Gates. As a veteran who hasn't always been supportive of our military leaders I would like to say that you have given me some faith that there are people like you in leadership roles. And while I struggle to support the wars in the middle east, and continue my support of President Obama, I can't tell you how important it was to hear you express your views on his decision to give the go ahead for this mission. Without piling on those who came before you, your honesty and ability to stand up for what is real is in stark contrast to your predecessors. Thank you again...and best wishes for a safe and happy retirement. Although I can imagine you will carry what you experienced during this time with you for the rest of your life. A life well lived.
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by wayneb59 May 16, 2011 12:47 PM EDT
Cutting weapons systems may or may not be necessary. But we certainly don't need more than 130 military-base golf courses, or more than three thousand military band members. Or, probably two-thirds of our bases.
DoD tell Congress: Even if you authorize and appropriate it to mollify constituents, we will not spend it if we don't need it.
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by dustdevil2 May 16, 2011 8:19 AM EDT
Couric helps Gates sell continued war and the fear of terrorists with a WMD.

As with all the 60 minutes segments on the Bin Laden psy-op Couric asks Gates no tough questions--such as why no proof has been provided that Bin Laden was in the compound.

We are simply asked to trust our government without any proof--to trust the same people who asked us to believe their conspiracy theory about 9/11. They didn't supply any proof on 9/11 either.
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by davidperi May 16, 2011 1:27 AM EDT
13 min...tell that to Geo W and his former partners who led the U.S. into Iraq. They should have had their heads examined.
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by TentCityPhoenix May 16, 2011 12:24 AM EDT
Gates & Obama made a fantastic team. Our troops deserve that kind of support and common sense behind their missions.
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by back2paris May 16, 2011 12:11 AM EDT
Semper Fi
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by springgirl12 May 15, 2011 11:30 PM EDT
Thank you Robert Gates for your service to our country, you are the epitome of country first.

I can't wait for the interviewer to retire, she is not dignified or classy enough, she should interview people like Donald Trump, or the half term governor from Alaska. The gentleman who interviewed our President last week did a much better job.
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by nicht01 May 15, 2011 11:22 PM EDT
I'm a baby-boomer and I think Secretary Gates is a tremendous patriot and hero for Amerca.
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by chf23 May 15, 2011 9:10 PM EDT
From a WW2 combat vet, I love this guy. Can't we clone him..535 times.
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