Maybe Kaplan is pinning his optimism on this: 

Second, Gates is a member of the Iraq Study Group chaired by James Baker (Bush's father's closest friend and adviser). Some who have testified before the group say that, judging from some of his remarks, Gates (like nearly everyone on the panel) is well-aware that the administration's policy in Iraq is a disaster. At his press conference this morning, President Bush said that he'll meet with Baker's group early next week. With a member of the panel in charge of the Pentagon, any changes Baker recommends now have a much better chance of being adopted.

People have a tendency to shift their worldviews once they get Cabinet appointments (think Colin Powell), so I'm not as convinced as Kaplan seems to be. But is it possible that Bush is making an implicit admission that Iraq has been a failure? It would be a first in his career, but Tuesday's earthquake may have caused a light bulb to flicker (however dimly and briefly) above his head.

--Socialist With A Gold Card

I hear you, FC. I should've pointed to Kaplan's piece, as well as William Arkin's for the sake of argument (I have to say I lost a lot of respect for and confidence in both of these writers after their inexcusably idiotic and unconscionable treatment of the Lancet report).

Gates should be given a fair hearing. But that's precisely what the Bushies are trying to avoid. They've created an illusion of urgency because want him confirmed before the new Senate comes in.

As the Democracy Now report explains, this same stupid game was played out the last time Gates's nomination was approved, and both Dems and Reps came to regret it...big time.

I have no doubt that Gates could make a competent Defense Secretary under a competent administration. The problem is that he's a boggart, adapting perfectly to whatever environment he's in. He can be an angel, or the worst rat-fucker imaginable. That's why Cheney wants him.

Gates has the potential to be much, much worse than Rumsfeld, and we can't afford the risk at this juncture. Rumsfeld couldn't hide the fact that he has no conscience because he's a moron. Gates is a sociopath and a smooth operator.