Newly appointed Defense Secretary Robert Gates pushed hard for shutting down the controversial detention center at Guantanamo Bay, but was blocked by Cheney and Gonzales, until Bush pulled the plug on the argument. Gates at least succeeded in halting a $100 million expansion of the prison he felt had become emblematic of War-on-Terror excess.
Sources within the administration say the recent U.S. Attorney scuffle has weakened Gonzales enough to allow them to discuss the rift, and maybe even reopen the Gitmo question. "Let's see what happens to Gonzales," one official told the Times. "I suspect this one isn't over yet." (More defense secretary stories.)