Rushing to curb political fallout, the White House pushed back Wednesday against harsh criticism in a new book by former Defense Secretary Robert Gates that questions President Barack Obama's war leadership and rips in Vice President Joe Biden. The tell-all memoir from Gates has created a splash in Washington, casting a negative light on Obama's national security operations by detailing a high level of discord among the small team that made key decisions about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. For two key participants — Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — the accusations could color how the two potential 2016 presidential candidates are viewed by voters. Initially caught off guard by the book's accusations, Obama's aides walked a fine line between publicly rebuking his former defense chief and allowing Gates' claims to go unchallenged. Still, the White House hurried to Biden's defense and said the president disagrees with Gates' characterization. Read more http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2014-01-07/white-house-disputes-biden-criticism-in-gates-book
