Word: gateses
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That was essentially the verdict delivered by Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday, when he officially gave up on the Bush Administration's tortured quest to purchase flying gas stations to replace the current fleet of KC-135 tankers, which average 47 years old. "How incompetent can the Air Force...
Given that track record, Gates says he had little choice. "It is my judgment that in the time remaining to us, we cannot complete a competition that would be viewed as fair and competitive in this highly charged environment," Gates told the House Armed Services Committee Wednesday. "I believe that...
Despite claims that the Pentagon only buys what's best for the troops, Gates' decision suggests what critics of the procurement process have long said - that major defense purchases are salted through with political implications ("This is a very political decision," Lichte said). That's especially true in the tanker...
Moreover, the delay is further evidence that defense choices are always made on a sliding scale, balancing costs against risks. While Air Force officials have been arguing for years that new tankers were needed yesterday, Gates made it clear Wednesday that's not quite the case. Stepped-up funding for...
General David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, wanted to maintain the current force level through next June, but agreed to the modest troop reduction under pressure from Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They are eager to divert additional...