U.S. Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona took to Twitter and Facebook to criticize the new book “Duty” by former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

From Flake’s Facebook page:

Some have questioned why I took to twitter last night to pan the new book by former Secretary of Defense, Bob Gates, in which he was highly critical of President Obama’s handling of the war in Afghanistan, among other revelations.

I’ve always respected Bob Gates, and have had the impression that he served the President and the country well. I liked the fact that the President, with modest experience and background in defense and foreign policy, was receiving advice and counsel from someone with Bob Gates’ extensive background and experience. I liked the fact that a Republican was in such an important position in a Democratic Administration.

But for a former Secretary of Defense to be so critical of the current commander-in-chief, particularly on an issue like Afghanistan when negotiations over future security arrangements remain unresolved, strikes me as bad timing and bad form.

Worse yet, it makes it less likely that this President, or future Presidents, will reach across the political or philosophical aisle when filling out his or her cabinet. The country benefits when people with discordant views are in a position to challenge and shape a President’s views in private, when in matters most. This book makes that less likely to happen.

While the revelations are red meat to the “hate Obama” crowd, I think Sen. Flake makes some solid points. The thoughts, feelings and recollections of Secretary Gates are relevant and insightful, and show us how decisions are made in the political arena. The release of them at this juncture serve to damage the process and I question how they honor the sacrifices of the men and women who served under him.