Ex-Defense Chief to Presidential Candidates: Running Government Is Tougher Than It Looks

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Sunday took an implied swipe at some presidential candidates, saying, “People who have never run a governmental organization often have no idea how complicated it is and how difficult. For example, if you're a CEO, you don't have 535 members on your board of directors.”

Speaking on “Meet the Press” to promote his new book “A Passion for Leadership,” Gates—who has served under eight presidents and was also CIA director—said voters should consider the “question of who can actually lead the country, and equally, who can run the government?”

He added: “Government is different -- and especially the federal government -- is different in many ways than running a business or anything else.”

After host Chuck Todd asked which is most realistic of the proposals for combatting ISIS offered by current candidates -- “carpet bomb them” (Ted Cruz); “take back the oil” (Donald Trump); “a no-fly zone, humanitarian corridors” (Hillary Clinton); or “A Muslim coalition, Sunni and Shia” (Bernie Sanders ) -- Gates said, “I think bringing in some kind of Arab coalition to try and help, creating some kind of humanitarian corridor, or safe haven, they're both tough. But you could do them.”

Gates continued: “The first alternatives, I think, are completely unrealistic. And furthermore, wouldn't accomplish the job. And I can't figure out whether those who are arguing that really believe they can do that, or whether they're just being cynical or opportunistic.”

None of the problems are simple, Gates continued, and a solution “requires, first of all, building coalitions in Washington. It would be useful in terms of foreign policy and national security to have some coalitions in Washington, where Washington speaks with relatively one voice, one sum unity, before we try and form coalitions around the world.”

Washington has been polarized in the past, he said. “Now, I think the question is who can move the country” and build coalitions. Harry Truman was “one of the most unpopular presidents in American history,” Gates said, “and yet accomplished extraordinary things.”