08:42 GMT, June 30, 2008 Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama may ask acting defence secretary Robert Gates to stay on if he wins the White House, London’s “Sunday Times” reports. Gates would perfectly fit in Obama’s vision to create a “cabinet of talents” not of party labels as he won comprehensive respect for his performance since he succeeded secretary Donald Rumsfeld in December 2006.

Richard Danzig, one of Obama’s advisers on national security issues and a former navy secretary, told the newspaper’s reporters: “My personal position is Gates is a very good secretary of defence and would be an even better one in an Obama administration.” Obama's foreign policy adviser Ivo Daalder added: “Robert Gates is one of the best defence secretaries we have had in a long time and it makes a lot of sense to keep him.”

Experts of the American campaign assume that to put Gates into play aims directly at pending Republicans as well as independent voters.

Naming Gates a “candidate” for a potential Obama administration could also point to a possible change in Obama’s Iraq policy. Though Obamas current position is to withdraw all combat troops from Iraq within sixteen months, he stated at a pre-election party last Saturday:"We have to bring the war in Iraq to a respectable, responsible and honorable end.”

Retaining Gates who recently stated in an interview with CNN "The next president would suffer the greatest consequences if we do get the endgame wrong, so I think whoever's elected is likely to take a fairly sensible approach to it," would “cover” possible changes in Obama’s policy and at the same time calm Republican withdrawl critics.

According to the “Sunday Times” Gates said he finds it “inconceivable” that he would stay on but Obama’s foreign policy adviser Daalder believes he would respond to the call. “This is a man who believes in service.”

Meanwhile Obama told “Times magazine”: “The lesson is not to let your ego or grudges get in the way of hiring absolutely the best people. I have an interest in casting a wide net, seeking out people with a wide range of expertise, including Republicans.”


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