Poor Secretary Gates. He always looks as if he swallowed a fly; something is leaving a bad taste in his mouth. Still, he comes off much better than the “fiddle-de-deing” Rumpsfeld. Imagine having a Secretary of Defense who takes events seriously enough to do something about them.

I’m inclined to agree with fiskhus jim (Comment #60057)

If we have learned nothing else in the last six plus years, we surely have learned ... ALL LEAKS SPRING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE! 

If Rice and Gates had a principled stand on any issue, we would see things being done very differently. In fact, like everyone else that has moved in and out of this administration they are expected to be yes men/women.

Those who obligingly click their heels and say, “yes sir(s),” are still there. Perhaps in a different position, but still there. Those who do not are gone.

Seems the only way a person can escape the iron fist of the Bush/Cheney presidency is to be convicted of a crime, or Quit!

Some may want to see this “leaked” story as an indication of good people in high positions trying to bring about positive change. In reality, it only proves the administration likes their folks to grovel. To many times, we’ve seen their obedient servants fall on their faces and ask, “How much lower do you want me to go?”

Look what Tony Snow goes through every day.

White House FAUX News Quotes:“If Gates tries to close GITMO, I will personally invite him to a Texas Quail Hunt” your truly “vice” War presinator, F-You Cheney
  TORTURE IS GOOD! PEACE IS BAD!

Although I can’t help but be a little skeptical, it’s looking more and more like Robert Gates is that rarity among Bush Administration officials: an honorable man!

I’ve always said that the measure of the corruption of any particular administration lies in the people they force you to admire for principle.

The Reagan Administration showed its moral poverty when it forced both Alexander Haig and Jeanne Kirkpatrick to take moral stands against proposed policy - and Bush the Second is following that trend.  Now we are forced to admire both Rice and Gates for their principled stand on this issue?

We all wanted this criminal concentration camp to be closed long long time ago. Those who want to keep this open are also considered to be executioners of modern time !

Aside from the obvious, there are two other things that interested me about this story.

One, it had to be LEAKED from somewhere. Probably Gates, or someone else high up in the War Department. So that indicates there is another opposition front opened against The Torture Czar.

Second, a $100 million courthouse at Guantanamo Bay? Gimme a break! Or rather, gimme another licence to steal! I’m sure that once a Halliburton subsidiary got the no-bid contract, they would have erected a nice $5 million courthouse, several years behind schedule. The other $95 million would be stolen by crooked friends of Tricky Dick. He must be gnashing his fangs over that missed opportunity. On the other hand, perhaps he’s stolen so much that another few tens of millions doesn’t matter.