Water Carrier

ARLINGTON, VA - JULY 18: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates arrives for a funeral for Dr. Michael DeBakey at Arlington National Cemetery July 18, 2008 in Virginia. Dr. DeBakey, a World War II veteran, retired a colonel from the US Army and was known as the father of modern heart surgery for his invention of part of the heart-lung machine. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)

I wish I could say the Defense Secretary was at Arlington Cemetery last July to buck the unstated Administration policy of avoiding Iraq War veteran’s funerals. But I can’t. Instead, Robert Gates was there to participate in the funeral of Dr. Michael DeBakey, the famous heart surgeon and World War II Army veteran.

I know it’s just one small example, but it symbolizes how Robert Gates has been too loyal to the current regime (and previous) to keep around.

All the trappings are here to do justice, but the Secretary just walks on by.

(images: Brendan Smialowski/Getty. Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. July 18, 2008)

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Michael Shaw
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