“As a CIA deputy director in the 1980s, Gates had helped oversee the arming of the Afghan mujahideen in their fight against the Soviet occupation of their country. The experience of watching that loosely organized insurgency bleed the mighty Red Army into retreat – only to have elements of that same insurgency later evolve into al-Qaeda – had made Gates mindful of the unintended consequences that could result from rash actions.”

“As a CIA deputy director in the 1980s, Gates had helped oversee the arming of the Afghan mujahideen in their fight against the Soviet occupation of their country. The experience of watching that loosely organized insurgency bleed the mighty Red Army into retreat – only to have elements of that same insurgency later evolve into al-Qaeda – had made Gates mindful of the unintended consequences that could result from rash actions.”

— Barack Obama