Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he is not impressed with the foreign policy experience of most of the GOP presidential field.
In an interview broadcast Sunday on
"Face the Nation," Gates said, "I haven't been particularly impressed frankly by anybody at this point."
For that matter, he said, he isn't "seeing much courage when it comes to support of the trade agreements which are, I think, very important for this country," from Republicans or Democrats.
Gates is a Republican, but was defense secretary under President Barack Obama. He said he is impressed with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's foreign policy knowledge, but added that he never discussed domestic policy with her when they served together in the Cabinet, "and I think that's a good thing."
As for the Republicans seeking to succeed Obama in the Oval Office, Gates said that "perhaps their views will be fleshed out and become more cogent as the campaign goes along." So far, though, "their views are probably largely unformed."
Asked about former Florida Gov.
Jeb Bush's stumbles on the wisdom of his brother entering the Iraq War in 2003, Gates expressed surprise that Bush wasn't better prepared with his answer.
"It was inevitable question that would be asked," Gates said, "And I think that the way to deal with it (is) frankly to say, you don't make policy by going back and reliving old decisions."
Presidents George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Obama, all of whom Gates has worked for, "didn't have second thoughts," he said. "They made a decision and they moved on."
Gates said that Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server is "a concern," and that he never used email for business when he was defense secretary.
He declined to endorse the Democrat, saying he wasn't sure "having a Republican endorse you is best thing at this point."
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