The Gates files (V): Some sharp digs at Bill Clinton’s handling of foreign policy
Bob Gates also reveals in his book that he thinks that President Clinton’s failures in foreign policy have been insufficiently recognized. "I believed the relationship with Russia had been badly mismanaged after Bush 41 left office in 1993…. When Russia was weak in the 1990s and beyond, we did not take Russian interests seriously." (Not ...
Bob Gates also reveals in his book that he thinks that President Clinton's failures in foreign policy have been insufficiently recognized. "I believed the relationship with Russia had been badly mismanaged after Bush 41 left office in 1993.... When Russia was weak in the 1990s and beyond, we did not take Russian interests seriously."
(Not that he is a Putin-hugger. At one point in a meeting with Russian officials, he passed a note to Condi Rice, then secretary of state: "I'd forgotten how much I really don't like these guys.")
That said, the other day I had lunch with an old friend who is a Russian specialist. He countered that Russia was weak well before the 1990s, but that there were a lot of people who didn't see that. He implied that Gates was one of them.
Bob Gates also reveals in his book that he thinks that President Clinton’s failures in foreign policy have been insufficiently recognized. "I believed the relationship with Russia had been badly mismanaged after Bush 41 left office in 1993…. When Russia was weak in the 1990s and beyond, we did not take Russian interests seriously."
(Not that he is a Putin-hugger. At one point in a meeting with Russian officials, he passed a note to Condi Rice, then secretary of state: "I’d forgotten how much I really don’t like these guys.")
That said, the other day I had lunch with an old friend who is a Russian specialist. He countered that Russia was weak well before the 1990s, but that there were a lot of people who didn’t see that. He implied that Gates was one of them.
Also, in arguing against a "counterterrorism" strategy in Afghanistan that Biden was advocating, Gates takes another pop at the Clinton administration, quoting from a memo he wrote to President Obama that, "We tried remote-control counterterrorism in the 1990s, and it brought us 9/11."
That said, Hillary Clinton is one top official who is depicted in Gates’s book as solid and reliable.
Speaking of Russia, its ally Ukraine is acting Putin-like creepy, sending out messages to the cell phones of demonstrators that, "Dear subscriber, you are registered as a participant in a mass disturbance." That "dear" is a nice touch!
Meantime, here is me yakking on NPR yesterday about the Gates book.
(Yep, not stopping here.)
More from Foreign Policy
Lessons for the Next War
Twelve experts weigh in on how to prevent, deter, and—if necessary—fight the next conflict.
It’s High Time to Prepare for Russia’s Collapse
Not planning for the possibility of disintegration betrays a dangerous lack of imagination.
Turkey Is Sending Cold War-Era Cluster Bombs to Ukraine
The artillery-fired cluster munitions could be lethal to Russian troops—and Ukrainian civilians.
Congrats, You’re a Member of Congress. Now Listen Up.
Some brief foreign-policy advice for the newest members of the U.S. legislature.
Sign up for Morning Brief
Foreign Policy’s flagship daily newsletter with what’s coming up around the world today. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.
