Best Defense
Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

But where is the Pentagon’s Trotsky?

Newsweek has a good profile of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, done by a couple of kids who would have a future in journalism, if journalism had a future. Most interesting quote: “As an old Soviet analyst, I read the speeches of their leaders very, very carefully,” he said. “And people should read my speeches very ...

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Newsweek has a good profile of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, done by a couple of kids who would have a future in journalism, if journalism had a future.

Newsweek has a good profile of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, done by a couple of kids who would have a future in journalism, if journalism had a future.

Most interesting quote:

“As an old Soviet analyst, I read the speeches of their leaders very, very carefully,” he said. “And people should read my speeches very carefully.”

This suggests all sorts of possibilities, like airbrushing ousted generals (McChrystal?) out of photographs. What is the Pentagon equivalent of Soviet leaders standing atop Lenin’s tomb for a Mayday parade?  

(HT to DJR)

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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