This is just ugly

I've never been a particularly big fan of Robert Gates, mostly regarding him merely as being an improvement on the jackass who preceeded him. When he stands on the international stage and makes arrogant, ugly statements about what other nations should be doing I just think he cannot disappear into the woodwork soon enough.

Highlighting the U.S.' frustration with prolonged military engagements where it had to take the lead, Mr. Gates also said the “blunt reality” was there would be “dwindling appetite and patience in the U.S. Congress and in the American body politic writ large to expend increasingly precious funds on behalf of nations that are apparently unwilling to devote the necessary resources or make the necessary changes to be serious and capable partners in their own defence.”

I don't think Panetta is going to be a big improvement, frankly, but it would be hard for him to be much worse. I have no idea where he thinks we are "expending resources" in defense of European nations.

Update: Norway responded by announcing this afternoon that it would reduce its participation in the Libyan effort immediately and withdraw completely by August 1st. Good for Norway.