Officials Downplay Tension Between Gates And Jones’s Replacement, Donilon
Oct 8, 2010 1 Comment ›› Pat Dollard
A Senior Defense official says the characterization in Bob Woodward’s “Obama’s Wars” book of Defense Secretary Robert Gates saying Tom Donilon replacing General Jones “would be a disaster” is outdated. The official says Gates did have concerns late last year during the Afghanistan-Pakistan review process, but suggests they have been addressed and overcome.
Donilon, who is currently deputy national security adviser, is replacing outgoing National Security Adviser General James Jones. President Obama will make the announcement Friday afternoon at the White House.
The official says they now enjoy a good working relationship.
The disaster comment this official insists “does not reflect the current state of play, and Gates is looking forward to working with him in this new capacity.”
Gates stood by Donilon Friday, “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with General Jones and I have had a very productive and very good working relationship with Tom Donilon contrary to what you may have read. And I look forward to continue to work with him.”
Politico:
One of the more memorable behind-the-scenes quotes in Bob Woodward’s “Obama’s Wars” is a warning by Defense Secretary Robert Gates that Deputy National Security Adviser Tom Donilon would be a “complete disaster” if promoted to the White House’s top foreign-policy job.
On Friday, President Barack Obama announced that retired Gen. James Jones’ plans to leave the job, and the selection of Donilon as his successor.
So, will that mean tension between the West Wing and the Pentagon?
Gates on Friday said no. “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with General Jones, and I have, and have had, a very productive and very good working relationship with Tom Donilon, contrary to what you may have read,” he said, an apparent reference to the Woodward book. “And I look forward to continue to —working with him.”
Asked about Gates’ view of Donilon, a senior defense official said: “The secretary did have some concerns in the past. But those date back to the AfPak review process [last year], and have been addressed and long since overcome. They enjoy a very good working relationship, and really have for quite some time now.
“So the characterization that some are pointing to in the Woodward book is just outdated. It does not reflect where things are now, or really have been for months. The secretary looks forward to working with Mr. Donilon in his new capacity.”
Gates is expected to leave the administration next year.
The official added in response to a question about the Donilon appointment and Gates’ retirement: “In no way would this cause the secretary to reconsider his own departure date. He will make those decisions based on what’s best for him and the president, not based on personnel matters.”
