White House disputes Biden criticism in Gates book
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is pushing back against criticism that former Defense Secretary Robert Gates has leveled against Vice President Joe Biden in a new book.
Gates' memoir is titled "Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War." He's quoted as saying Biden has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue of the last four decades.
White House spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden says President Barack Obama disagrees. She says Biden has been a leading statesman and has advanced U.S. leadership abroad. Hayden says Obama relies on Biden's good counsel every day.
Responding to another Gates claim, that Obama lost confidence in the Afghanistan surge, Hayden says the president has always welcomed different views within his team.
Gates served under Obama and former President George W. Bush.
