Defense Secretary Gates Last Major Policy Speech

Gates on Satellites From Planes, and Nuke Policy -- DoDBuzz

In what may be his last major policy speech before the next administration takes power, Defense Secretary Robert Gates made a strong pitch today at a highly symbolic venue — the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace — for a new generation of nuclear weapons.

Clearly worried that nuclear deterrence has been neglected as a strategic issue, and not just as an operational one, Gates argued for a broad deterrent approach, letting enemies and potential enemies know that the US will use nuclear weapons if attacked with weapons of mass destruction. And Gates made clear that this is aimed right at states like North Korea and Iran, eager to develop their own nuclear capabilities.

“Rogue regimes that threaten their neighbors and our allies, potentially with nuclear weapons, are a problem today and will be in the future. Our goal is, in part, to reduce their ability to hold other nations hostage, and to deny them the ability to project power,” he said. This will also hold true for “terrorists and the states that sponsor or harbor them.”

He appeared to expand the doctrine of nuclear deterrence, saying that, “Today we also make clear that the United States will hold any state, terrorist group, or other non-state actor or individual fully accountable for supporting or enabling terrorist efforts to obtain or use weapons of mass destruction – whether by facilitating, financing, or providing expertise or safe haven for such efforts.”

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My Comment: The points that Robert Gates outlines in this speech are in conflict with what the Obama campaign has been advocating .... especially when it comes to America's nuclear forces. Robert Gates will definitely not be in an Obama Administration.