Robert Gates: “I'm just frankly not specifically certain myself of the details.”

He is deeply knowledgeable about the international scene and geopolitics.

Putin believes it's his destiny to recreate the Russian empire.

He would be candid and honest, willing to tell the President straight from the shoulder what he needs to hear.

Without proper and predictable funding, no amount of reform or clever reorganization will provide America with a military capable of accomplishing the missions it's assigned to.