MORE HEAT ON OBAMA - AT 8:45 A.M. ET:  And it's coming from Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who earlier in the week also gently prodded his boss publicly over Obama's dithering on Afghanistan. 

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday that NATO allies are moving toward sending more troops and civilian aid to Afghanistan.

Gates said he was ''heartened'' by allies' commitment to the 8-year-old war even as the Obama administration mulls whether to order tens of thousands more U.S. troops to the fight.

The Pentagon chief cited a long-term commitment by NATO partners to remain in Afghanistan until the conflict is successfully resolved.

COMMENT:  I get the feeling, but have no direct evidence to back it up, that Gates is preparing to leave the administration, and has nothing to lose by putting some pressure on the Hamlet-like Obama.  I can't imagine any secretary of defense being pleased with this amateurish student government president. 

If Gates does resign, there are rumors that he'll be replaced by one of Washington's great embarrassments, former Senator Chuck Hagel, a so-called Republican who all but endorsed Obama during the campaign.  Hagel is to national defense what swine flu is to humans.

October 23, 2009