Back Channels: Words of hard-earned wisdom on national defense

There seems to be something about the job of defense secretary that attracts blunt, no-nonsense realists.

Exhibit A was on display last month at the National Constitution Center, where Robert Gates demonstrated again why Republican and Democratic presidents wanted him running the Pentagon.

In a public question-and-answer session early in the day, in media interviews, and finally at the Liberty Medal presentation, Gates was thoughtful, professional - and blunt.

Asked about a U.N. vote on Palestinian statehood, he noted that as the "ultimate realist" he looks at whether an action will advance or deter the cause of peace. Gates said a unilateral move by the Palestinians deterred, but added that actions from both sides had stood in the way of progress over the years.

He defended what some consider an unnecessarily protracted survey of the military on the end of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." He stressed that ultimately the opportunity for all service members to ask questions, raise concerns, and work through potential scenarios would help ensure a smooth implementation of the new policy.

When an ROTC student asked what constitutes an act of war when it comes to cyber-attacks, Gates said it was a question he frequently asked at the Pentagon and one that was still largely unanswered.

Citing budget realities, he said the military couldn't afford "niche" weapons systems suitable for only one battlefield contingency. However, he also noted that defense spending - at historic lows as a percentage of gross domestic product - is not the cause of the budget crisis.

He told ROTC students that while studying team-building and group dynamics was important, especially for military leaders, they should also realize that at some point in their careers they "will have to stand alone, to say, 'This is wrong.' " And they should start preparing for such a moment long before they become general officers.

"Developing independent thought and character do not come overnight with that first star," he said.

That evening, in accepting the Liberty Medal, he called out a wrong - "the dysfunction in our political system."