BLACKFIVE: SECDEF Gates on Strategic Communication

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SECDEF Gates on Strategic Communication

Posted By Grim • [June 06, 2012]

By Wednesday of that week, Gates went to see Donilon, offering up a barbed assessment of how the White House had handled the aftermath of the raid.

‘I have a new strategic communications approach to recommend,’ Gates said in his trademark droll tones, according to an account later provided by his colleagues.

What was that, Donilon asked?

‘Shut the f@*k up,’ the defense secretary said.

That sounds more like a good NCO than a SECDEF, but it's solid advice all the same. Too bad nobody was listening.

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