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Ex-Defense Secretary's New Memoir Takes Aim At Obama

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U.S Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is pictured speaking at a press conference with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai June 4, 2011 in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
U.S Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is pictured speaking at a press conference with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai June 4, 2011 in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, in a book due out later this month, offers a harsh critique of President Barack Obama’s leadership and his commitment to the Afghanistan war.

Through specific examples of meetings and exchanges, Gates offers a catalog of judgments against both President Obama and Vice President Biden, as well as then-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

President Obama has issued a statement disagreeing with Secretary Gates' antagonistic assessment; however, overall reaction to this rare depiction from a former Cabinet member is imminent.

NPR Pentagon reporter Tom Bowman joins Here & Now's Robin Young with details.

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This segment aired on January 8, 2014.

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