Gates Downplays Reports Of A Heated Debate Over Afghan Plan

Defense Secretary Robert Gates Thursday attempted to downplay the drama surrounding the upcoming release of veteran journalist Bob Woodward’s latest book, primarily media reports that it describes an administration torn over an Afghan strategy.

“Conflict sells,” Gates told reporters at the Pentagon. “President’s are always well served when there is a vigorous and spirited debate over important issues.”

Woodward’s book, entitled “Obama’s Wars,” reportedly depicts President Obama struggling to determine the breadth of the U.S. presence in Afghanistan as well as tension amid the military and national security team.

Gates, who was interviewed by Woodward, emphasized that while there was a debate amid the formulation of the strategy, there is now a consensus.

“Once the President made his decision last December, everybody was at the senior level in the administration was on board,” Gates said. “That continues to be the case.”

Obama’s Wars will be released Monday.

New Woodward Book Reveals White House Infighting Over Afghanistan Strategy

A new book by veteran journalist Bob Woodward reveals that last year’s effort within the White House to formulate a military strategy for Afghanistan was more turbulent than previously believed.

According to the New York Times, who received the book, entitled Obama’s Wars, prior to its release next week, President Obama struggled with military leaders and his national security team over the length and size of the U.S. presence in Afghanistan.

“I can’t let this be a war without end, and I can’t lose the whole Democratic Party,” Obama reportedly told Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) when the Republican Senator asked about the administration’s commitment to the timetable to begin the withdrawal of troops.

The book also describes a request from the Pentagon to send 4,500 soldiers to Afghanistan to assist the additional 30,000 announced last December. The request apparently angered Obama and resulted in a six-page dictated message to the Defense Department outlining the exact, limited terms of the troop escalation.

Segments from the book included in the Times article also show tension between the President’s political advisers and the national security team. National Security Adviser James L. Jones is described  referring to White House aides as “the Politburo” and then-CentCom head General David Petraeus is included calling adviser David Axelrod a “complete spin doctor.”

In addition, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is depicted quarreling with former National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair, who left in May, over reports that extremists with American and European passports were being trained to attack the U.S. abroad. 

According to a quote included in the Times, Emanuel responded “You’re just trying to put this on us so it’s not your fault.” 

Woodward, 67, gained national prominence during the Nixon administration for his and fellow Washington Post reporter Carl Bernstein’s investigative reports on the Watergate scandal. In recent years, he wrote extensively on the Bush administration, publishing the War Within: A Secret White House History in late 2008.