Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who helped reshape national security, to speak Monday in Vero Beach

What: Robert Gates

When: 4 and 6 p.m. Feb. 4

Where: Riverside Theatre, 3250 Riverside Park Drive, Vero Beach

Tickets: $60 and $85

Information: 772-231-6990;

Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has been an active participant in some of the events that shaped recent American history. He began his career in the CIA during the Cold War, eventually moving up the ranks to become the agency's director and was defense secretary during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

On Feb. 4, he is joining the Riverside Theatre's Distinguished Lecturer Series for two lectures on foreign policy, the revolutions in the Middle East and defense strategies.

Gates is the only secretary of defense to serve under two presidents. He was appointed by George W. Bush to succeed Donald Rumsfeld, with the Pentagon in disarray. Known for working across party lines, he helped reshape national security and signed off on a controversial plan to build a new missile shield in Europe.

He retired in 2011 and today is working on a book due in the summer with the working title, "Duty."

In an interview with Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers, Gates talked about budget reductions, polarization in Washington, D.C., and his main concerns about U.S. foreign relations.

Q: The Obama administration could be pulling troops out of Afghanistan by 2014. Is that a good time frame?

A: I think we need to leave some forces there after 2014, and the debate is going on in Washington right now about how many that should be ... I think how we play it over the next year or two is important in terms of maximizing the chances of the Afghan forces in terms of keeping the Taliban at bay and keeping al-Qaida and other extremists out. I think moving too precipitously would be a mistake,

Q: How do you see the Afghan government handling the country after the U.S. leaves?

A: I think that remains to be seen. They have to have responsibility for themselves.

Q: Given your reputation for working with both parties when you were secretary of defense, how would you bridge the gap between strong political ideologies that make it difficult to make progress in the Capitol?

A: The problems we face are so deep that they cannot be solved in the course of one presidency or one Congress. Therefore, any strategy with dealing with any of our serious problems, from the deficit to the debt to entitlements, will require bipartisan support that can be sustained over the years, very much like our strategy toward the Soviet Union.

Q: How would you achieve budget reductions coming up?

A: I think my biggest concern is that it will be done too quickly and too sharply and that it will be more about math than strategy.

We have already imposed the cuts I proposed in 2009 and 2010. We already cut the defense budget by about $900 billion. I haven't seen any cuts of that magnitude on the domestic side. My first argument would be, 'Let's take a time out and compare what's already been cut in defense to what's going on with the rest of the government.'

Defense today is a lower percentage of federal spending than any time since before World War II, about 15 percent.

Q: During your exit speech as secretary of defense, you urged other NATO nations to do more as the U.S. faces a budget deficit. What is the future of NATO in your opinion?

A: I'm really concerned because it is, after all, a military alliance. If the other countries won't invest in their militaries, then the gap between those who can back up their military and those who can't will grow. As a collective security alliance, I think that has significant implications in the future.

Q: Is there a way to solve the issue and force other nations to contribute more?

A: The solution is easy. All they have to do is increase defense spending. With the current political and economic environment in Europe, that's almost impossible.

Q: What are you most proud of during your term as secretary of defense?

A: The things I did to take care of the troops, like armored vehicles ... much more focus on wounded warriors and outpatient care, measures to try to amend the damages by these IEDs (improvised explosive device).

Q: Any disappointments?

A: There were some problems in terms of dealing with people leaving the military and the kind of bureaucracy they had to deal with, particularly getting disabilities evaluated and things like that. I wish I had made more progress on that.

Q: Former Sen. David L. Boren said you will be remembered for making us aware of the danger of our over-reliance on military intervention. How did the U.S. become so willing to go to war?

A: I think it may be one of the consequences of an all-volunteer Army. The presidents have felt more at liberty to use an all-volunteer force because the overall reaction of the country is, 'Well, they signed up for it.' The rest of the country is kind of detached from the military.

Q: What do you think of Sen. Chuck Hagel's nomination for secretary of defense?

A: While I have disagreements with Sen. Hagel, I think he's a man of complete integrity and deep patriotism and I think he ought to be confirmed.