I suspect few war-mongers come here, so I don't want to alarm anyone, but.... Secretary of Defense Robert Gate's "exit" interview with Jim Lehrer on the PBS Newshour (June 23) was impressive. The man is sane and even balanced! He spoke of the troops' exhaustion; he seemed a little exhausted himself--time to become the dispensable nation?There is a transcript posted here. Dare I say, far more impressive than his predecessor--what's his name.

Margaret O’Brien Steinfels is a former editor of Commonweal. 

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