He openly attacks Obama because he would rather talk with some countries in lieu of running around like a crazy old man singing "bomb bomb bomb Iran"... Maybe he better try reading, or have someone read him, the Washington Post before he runs his mouth off overseas
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/05/14/ST2008051404020.htmlGates: U.S. Should Engage Iran With Incentives, Pressure
The United States should construct a combination of incentives and pressure to engage Iran, and may have missed earlier opportunities to begin a useful dialogue with Tehran, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said yesterday.
"We need to figure out a way to develop some leverage . . . and then sit down and talk with them," Gates said. "If there is going to be a discussion, then they need something, too. We can't go to a discussion and be completely the demander, with them not feeling that they need anything from us."
In the meantime, Gates told a meeting of the Academy of American Diplomacy, a group of retired diplomats, "my personal view would be we ought to look for ways outside of government to open up the channels and get more of a flow of people back and forth." Noting that "a fair number" of Iranians regularly visit the United States, he said, "We ought to increase the flow the other way . . . of Americans" visiting Iran.