Why Again Do We Still Have a Special Relationship With the Tyrannical UK?
Biden DOJ Quietly Dismisses Case Against Two Jordanians Who Tried to Infiltrate Marine...
Is There Trouble Ahead for Pete Hegseth?
Celebrate Diversity (Or Else)!
Journos Now Believe the Liar Trump When Convenient, and Did Newsweek Provide the...
To Vet or Not to Vet
Trump: From 'Fascist' to 'Let's Do Lunch'
Newton's Third Law of Politics
Religious Belief and the 2024 Election
Restoring American Strength and Security with Trump’s Cabinet Picks
Linda McMahon to Education May Choke Foreign Influence Operations on Campus
Unburden Us From the Universities
Watch Jasmine Crockett Go On Rant About White People Over the Abolishment of...
Texas Hands Over Massive Plot of Land to Trump for Deportations
Scott Jennings Offers Telling Points on Democrats' Losses With Young Men
Tipsheet

Robert Gates: Iraq Was in "Good Shape" in 2010 and Early 2011

Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who served under both President Obama and his predecessor, appeared on Fox & Friends Tuesday morning to discuss the unraveling of Iraq and the rise of ISIS.

Advertisement

He reminded the audience that while the situation in Iraq is becoming increasingly more dangerous, the country was, in fact, relatively stable just a few short years ago.

“The truth is we had the situation in pretty good shape in 2010, first part of 2011,” he said. “I think the security in Iraq was pretty good. The security forces were pretty good. But that was because we had a presence and we had influence so we could restrain [former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s] worst instincts, which were anti-Sunni, and we could ensure that the leaders of the Iraqi security forces were competent and well-trained, instead of a bunch of political hacks, which is who Maliki’s people put in place.”

Asked about how America’s veterans must feel after sacrificing so much in a country that has all but imploded, he confessed he couldn’t say with certainty.

“I can’t imagine what some of the troops are thinking,” he said. “To see it under the control of this group."

Advertisement

Significantly, however, he also addressed a question many Republican presidential candidates have been asked on the campaign trail lately—namely, was the decision to invade (and liberate) Iraq ultimately the right one?

“Frankly, it’s not the important question because you can’t re-litigate history,” he intoned. “You don’t know who your advisors would have been, or how you would have interpreted the intelligence. The more important question, it seems to me, is what are the lessons to be learned of what we did—and of the mistakes that were made—so we don’t make those mistakes again?”

“That’s the important question,” he added.

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Recommended

Trending on Townhall Videos

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement