Musings on Globalization

The recent appointment of Richard Gates to assume the position of Secretary of Defense (replacing Donald Rumsfeld) has been surrounded by much controversy. The mantle of Secretary of Defense carries a heavy burden currently; with America being engaged in large scale military conflicts in two separate nations (Afghanistan and Iraq), as well as being involved in the globe spanning War on Terror. Additionally, after the common criticism that the press and American public leveled against Donald Rumsfeld (heralding the conditions under which he resigned from the position), many are doubting whether Richard Gates will be able to adequately and better handle the responsibilities and the weight of the decisions that a Secretary of Defense has to deal with and make on a daily basis. However, it is my opinion (along with that of many members of the United States Military and various other government officials) that Richard Gates is extremely qualified to not only fill the void left by Rumsfeld’s resignation, but to clean up what many would like to call the mess that Rumsfeld has left him to handle, largely rectifying various issues that are at the forefront of Americas problems abroad and at home, chiefly our War on Terror.

            Before assuming the office of Secretary of Defense, Richard Gates had previously served the head of the Central Intelligence Agency (C.I.A.), after working his way up through the ranks therein during his career. Having had the experience of leading an organization that plays such a part in national security, the manifold issues that come into play when planning America’s national security are already not completely foreign to Gates. In fact, from previously heading up the CIA, Gates has intimate knowledge of the many resources available to him to deal with such issues as
America’s War on Terror. On a more fundamental level, Gates (unlike Rumsfeld) has already proven himself as being capable of overseeing the machinations of a large Federal agency with his heading of the CIA, and has been spared the initial criticism that heralded Rumsfelds ascendancy to the office of Secretary of Defense. While it is the natural reaction of the American public and press to criticize and be skeptical of the difference that Gates can make as the new Secretary Defense; for the aforementioned and a few more key reasons, it seems that Gates’ new strategy for combating such issues (mainly our conflict-encompassing War on Terror) holds much promise for his time in office, as well as America as a whole.

            During his tenure as the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, Richard Gates at times worked hand in hand with the different branches of the U.S. Military, and is thus familiar with the military resources available to him in order to combat the War on Terror, which seems to be the chief issue on hand. Gates publicly stated in an that during that time, in work with the different branches of the
U.S. Military (chiefly their Special Forces), he is aware of their capabilities and their potential to radically change our predicament in the War on Terror if used in certain ways. The Army’s Green Berets specialize in counter-insurgency and the training of paramilitary forces in order to further their capability to combat and suppress insurgency; insurgency being the main problem stymieing progress in both Afghanistan and
Iraq. The Navy’s S.E.A.L.’s are other elite military units whose training and purpose allows them to take on the terrorism/insurgency that has since characterized our conflicts abroad. Finally,
America’s Delta Force, being debatably the most elite unit in the Special Forces community, is also being utilized to combat terrorism under the basic precept that counter-terrorism is its main niche to fill as part of the U.S. Military’s overall strategy. In essence, Gates has stated that by changing the way that our Special Forces (including the multitude of resources at their disposal) are deployed and used abroad, we can change the face and outcome of our War on Terror.