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White House Defends War Policy Against Memoir's Harsh Critique

White House press secretary Jay Carney fields questions Wednesday about former Defense Secretary Robert Gates' new memoir. Jacquelyn Martin/AP hide caption

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Jacquelyn Martin/AP

White House Defends War Policy Against Memoir's Harsh Critique

January 8, 2014 • Press secretary Jay Carney responds to a new book by former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, saying disagreement is a welcome part of a "robust" policymaking process.

Book News: Biography Of Fox's Roger Ailes Alleges Sexism, Anti-Semitism

Fox News Channel chief Roger Ailes attends a 2012 Hollywood Reporter celebration of "The 35 Most Powerful People in Media" in New York City. Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images hide caption

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Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Book News: Biography Of Fox's Roger Ailes Alleges Sexism, Anti-Semitism

January 8, 2014 • Also: Former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates' new memoir is critical of the Obama White House; The Morning News' annual Tournament of Books announces its contestants; a new short story from Nicole Krauss.

Ex-Defense Secretary Gates Takes Aim At Obama In New Book

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and President Obama salute during a farewell ceremony for Gates on June 30, 2011. Evan Vucci/AP hide caption

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Evan Vucci/AP

Ex-Defense Secretary Gates Takes Aim At Obama In New Book

January 7, 2014 • In Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War, Robert Gates says the president was unsure the Afghan surge would work and was openly distrustful of military leaders. "I never doubted Obama's support for the troops, only his support for their mission," he writes. The book is scheduled for release Jan. 14.

Report: Pullout Plan A Win For Gates, Loss For Petraeus

June 23, 2011 • President Obama's decision to withdraw all 33,000 surge troops from Afghanistan by the end of next summer was another success for Defense Secretary Robert Gates and a defeat for Gen. David Petraeus, according to Yochi Dreazen and Marc Ambinder of The Atlantic.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates offering his blunt assessment of NATO earlier today (June 10, 2011) in Brussels. Getty Images hide caption

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Getty Images

Gates Warns Of NATO's 'Dim' Future

June 10, 2011 • Too many members in the 28-nation alliance are not contributing as much as they should, the outgoing secretary of defense says. A "two-tier" NATO is unacceptable, he says. And American taxpayers might soon get tired of supporting the organization.

Gates: Military Will Always Have 'Full Menu'

June 2, 2011 • After the Iran and Afghanistan campaigns, the challenges presented by Iran, North Korea and others will remain, the soon-to-retire Pentagon chief says.

Gates: Military Will Always Have 'Full Menu'

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Gates: Taliban Engaged In Talks By Year's End

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Alex Brandon/AP hide caption

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Alex Brandon/AP

Gates: Taliban Engaged In Talks By Year's End

June 1, 2011 • "Peace is made between people who have been killing each other," the defense secretary says, and the Taliban is part of Afghanistan's political fabric.

Gates: Taliban Engaged In Talks By Year's End

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Gates: No Proof, But 'Somebody' In Pakistan 'Had To Know' About Bin Laden

May 18, 2011 • It's just supposition at this point, the defense secretary concedes. But he and other U.S. officials believe there were people in Pakistan who knew the al-Qaida leader was living there.

Obama's Reshuffled National Security Team Has Familiar, Bush-Era Feel

April 28, 2011 • President Obama chose officials as part of his national security team who should be easily confirmed by the Senate. They also have a familiar, Bush-era feel.

Gates Arrives In Saudi Arabia, Berlusconi Skips Sex Trial

The Texas A&M Aggies celebrate winning the 2011 NCAA Women's Final Four on April 5, 2011. Elsa/Getty Images hide caption

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Elsa/Getty Images

Gates Arrives In Saudi Arabia, Berlusconi Skips Sex Trial

April 6, 2011 • Robert Gates visits Saudi Arabia; Italian leader fails to show at trial; Colorado wildfires; Texas A&M wins Women's NCAA basketball championship

Gates: 'No One Can Predict' How Long It Will Take To Push Out Gadhafi

March 31, 2011 • "We continue to degrade his military capabilities" and there's a good chance there will soon be "some cracking" in Moammar Gadhafi's military command, Gates says.

Obama Team Shoots Down Libya No-Fly Talk

March 7, 2011 • While some U.S. policymakers continued to call for strong U.S.-led military action against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, namely a no-fly zone, Obama officials kept resisting such demands, citing the difficulty.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan. MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

Libyan Rebels Forced Back

March 7, 2011 • Libya rebels pushed back; Gates visits Afghanistan; snow in New York; Hawaii volcano

Pentagon Says Hill Politics May Hamper Military Plans In 2011

F-18 Super Hornets on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images hide caption

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Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

Pentagon Says Hill Politics May Hamper Military Plans In 2011

January 27, 2011 • The Pentagon is on the verge of a budget crisis and the blame lies with the Congress, Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters during an interview Wednesday.

Gates' Warns About North Korea; Hopes To Restart Talks

January 11, 2011 • Of concern: The possibility of North Korea developing a nuclear weapon and a long-range capability.

Giffords Remains In Critical Yet Stable Condition

Water gushes into a shopping center in Toowoomba, Australia as the region braces for more deadly flooding. NICOLE ALAYNE HAMMERMEISTER/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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NICOLE ALAYNE HAMMERMEISTER/AFP/Getty Images

Giffords Remains In Critical Yet Stable Condition

January 11, 2011 • Rep. Gabrielle Giffords condition; Hillary Clinton in Yemen; Gates say North Korea poses direct threat; new Australian flooding

Reports Of China's Stealth Fighter Come As Pentagon Proposes Cuts

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force puts on an air display to mark its 60th birthday in Beijing on November 15, 2009. (Those are not stealth prototypes.) STR/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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STR/AFP/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Reports Of China's Stealth Fighter Come As Pentagon Proposes Cuts

January 6, 2011 • As Defense Secretary Robert Gates announces new cost-cutting measures, the news from China of its efforts to produce a stealth fighter reminds world of its bid to transform its military.

Obama: U.S. Is 'On Track To Achieve Our Goals' In Afghanistan

L-R: Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Vice President Biden, President Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman Gen. James Cartwright, during today's briefing. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP hide caption

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Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

The Two-Way

Obama: U.S. Is 'On Track To Achieve Our Goals' In Afghanistan

December 16, 2010 • The administration's latest review of operations in Afghanistan concludes there has been progress, but that conditions remain fragile.

Gates Again Argues Against Waiting To Repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Defense Secretary Robert Gates salutes as he arrives aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

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Win McNamee/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Gates Again Argues Against Waiting To Repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

December 6, 2010 • But the secretary of defense also says "I'm not particularly optimistic" that Congress will vote to repeal the law before it adjourns later this month.

It's All Politics

DADT Issue Heads To Congressional Bog

November 30, 2010 • The DADT issue now moves to Congress where it's chances for lame duck passage are questionable.

WikiLeaks' Impact On Foreign Policy 'Fairly Modest,' Gates Says

Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

The Two-Way

WikiLeaks' Impact On Foreign Policy 'Fairly Modest,' Gates Says

November 30, 2010 • While Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the leaks "tear at the fabric" of our government, the defense secretary says all nations know the U.S. "leaks like a sieve" and will still deal with America.

Vote To Be Held On Don't Ask Don't Tell Says Reid

Lt. Dan Choi, center, stands with other protesters after handcuffing themselves to the fence outside the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 15, 2010, during a protest for gay-rights. The group demanded that President Obama keep his promise to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP hide caption

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Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

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Jim R. Bounds/Associated Press

The Two-Way

Gates Warns Of Cultural Split Between Military And Country

September 30, 2010 • Defense Secretary Robert Gates warns of growing cultural rift between the military and the rest of the country. Speaking at Duke University he called on elites to also choose to serve.

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