The United States' most important Asian ally--Japan--proved a difficult relationship to manage during Robert Gates' tenure. While not resolving many outstanding issues in US-Japan relations, Gates did manage to keep ties on track and focused on constructive engagement.

At AEI on May 24, Secretary Gates will deliver one of his last Washington addresses as secretary of defense.

In the course of doing everything I could to turn things around first in Iraq, then in Afghanistan, from the early months I ran up against institutional obstacles in the Pentagon--cultural, procedural, ideological--to getting done what needed to get done on behalf of those fighting the wars we are in.

When he was director of central intelligence, Leon Panetta earned a reputation as an energetic advocate for his agency. When he replaced Robert Gates at the Pentagon, it was reasonable to hope that Panetta would continue to play the role of a senior statesman.

The torrent of recent articles about intelligence regarding Iraq obviously requires investigation.

A few questions for the incoming Secretary of Defense.

Speaking in 2009 about America’s approach to North Korea, then-Secretary of Defense Robert Gates famously remarked, “I’m tired of buying the same horse twice.” President Obama just repurchased that horse — and it’s a scrub.