White House Surprised By Former Defense Secretary Gates' Allegations In His Memoir

'This Is Very, Very Bad': White House Insider Reveals How Obama Was 'Blindsided' By Former Defense Secretary's Damning Allegations In Explosive New Book -- The Daily Mail

* Obama spokesman Jay Carney coyly told reporters that he hasn't 'had time to look at' Robert Gates' new book despite receiving a copy Tuesday night
* The National Security Council's spokeswoman acknowledges that the book 'was read by a member of the White House staff overnight'
* A White House aide says that by Wednesday morning it was broken down for staffers to read and vet
* 'No one saw this coming,' the staffer said
* Gates wrote that Obama ordered troops to Afghanistan despite believing their mission would fail
* He also revealed that both Obama and Hillary Clinton opposed George W. Bush's Iraq surge for political reasons, not on the merits
* The White House has defended Joe Biden against Gates' claim that he is 'wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue'
* Obama held a rare photo call Wednesday with Biden, who is thought to be preparing his own White House run for 2016

The Obama administration was blindsided' by bombshell accusations in a book by former secretary of defense Robert Gates, according to a White House staffer with knowledge of Tuesday's events in the White House.

'They're breaking it down and dividing it up in the West Wing,' the aide told MailOnline, describing a frantic scene. 'No one saw this coming.'

The source requested anonymity since he is not authorized to speak publicly.

Jay Carney, the White House's press secretary, opened Wednesday's press briefing by asking reporters, 'Read any good books lately?'

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My Comment: What's my take .... nothing that I have read so far has surprised me. There are no new revelations (for me) in this book .... and if anything .... I am deeply disappointed in Robert Gates. He should have resigned when he found himself in a position where he no longer had confidence in the President. Instead .... he choose to stay and keep his thoughts to himself until he had left the administration and finished his book.