Gates: Iran Memo Not a 'Wake-Up Call'

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' Sunday afternoon included an exercise in PR damage control: After the New York Times reported that, in a secret White House memo, Gates implied that the U.S. lacked a long-term plan for handling Iran’s nuclear program, the defense secretary is claiming the message was not meant to be a “wake-up call.” In a statement issued by his press secretary, Gates said the newspaper article "mischaracterized its purpose and content" in implying that her was upset over the Pentagon's strategy. "Rather," he said, "it presented a number of questions and proposals intended to contribute to an orderly and timely decision making process."