`` They both had the worst of both worlds on the Hill : they were neither particularly liked nor feared . Bob Gates ' experience includes quitting Iraq , fighting for troops . Bush and Obama ` ` had much more in common than I expected , '' ex - Pentagon official writes . Gates served as defense secretary from 2006 to 2009 . In the end , ` ` I was just exhausted from the daily fights , '' he says .
Bob Gates ' experience includes quitting Iraq , fighting for troops . Bush and Obama ` ` had much more in common than I expected , '' ex - Pentagon official writes . Gates served as defense secretary from 2006 to 2009 . In the end , ` ` I was just exhausted from the daily fights , '' he says .