Robert Gates, the new US defense secretary, is the one who had the heart to join President Bush at a time when the winds of change have completely enveloped US politics -- and his predecessor's Iraq policy had eventually led to drubbing by the Democrats in the mid-term elections that stripped the Republicans of control of the Congress.

What prompted Robert Gates to accept the most unwanted job in the world -- that too for the last quarter of President Bush's long stint in the Oval Office -- is still shrouded in mystery. But one thing is certain, that is that he is quite different from Donald Rumsfeld, who, owing to a basket-full of misadventures in the global arena and unnecessary tongue-wagging, earned the reputation of being a highly emotional, hawkish and seriously-myopic politician.

Naturally, the soft-spoken and mild-mannered public persona of Robert Gates is being increasingly compared with the mercurial and bullish personality of Rumsfeld -- with high expectations of a relatively less assertive role of Mr. Gates in handling the military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. But even during the honeymoon period of his new assignment, Gates has proven to be tougher and more resolute than Rumsfeld.

He has approved an increase in the size of the US army and Marine Corps, wholeheartedly supported President Bush's new Iraq strategy that involves sending 21,500 more US troops to war-torn Iraq, and now he is vehemently favouring a surge in US troops in Afghanistan.

All these early decisions are indicative of a difference that had not being predicted by the political analysts who were pointing towards a gradual mollification of the military stance on Iraq under the former CIA chief.

Apart from backing President Bush's belligerent policy in global affairs, Gates has demonstrated tremendous dynamism and energy in the initial period by making very hectic visits to both the hot spots -- Iraq and Afghanistan -- and other capitals. Within days after taking over charge from Rumsfeld, Gates was in Baghdad on a fact-finding mission, and had detailed sessions with the military command there as well as the Iraqi government.

It was after meeting with the US troops in Iraq that Gates further hardened his stance for sending more troops there. Within weeks again, he re-embarked upon a 5-day tour that took him to London, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and the Nato headquarters in Brussels.

It is certainly "too taxing" for a person of his age to undertake such a blitz of diplomatic traveling, with very short intervals in between. "I am too old to do seven countries in 5 ½ days," he admitted after returning from his swift tour of the region.

The unprecedented diplomatic blitzkrieg by Robert Gates is certainly a new phenomenon that has its own merits. Without going into the ethical aspects of President Bush's foreign policy and Gates' unequivocal support for it, one thing that is clear is that he is desperate to leave his mark as an "energetic and dynamic" defense secretary.

To achieve this objective, he is trying hard to establish a "differentiation" between him and his immediate predecessor through his incessant diplomatic forays. In fact, in the last two months, he has definitely overshadowed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in the realm of offensive diplomacy. Apparently, he is stepping into Rice's domain -- obviously a disturbing development for Rice who might soon re-demarcate his territory of operations.

While giving the impression of being a genial newcomer who is still in the learning phase, Gates has been shrewdly pursuing Bush's belligerent agenda and even going beyond the hawkish tendencies of Rumsfeld. One of his favourite quotes is: "Negotiations without arms are like notes without instruments."

Unlike Rumsfeld who, because of his overwhelming interest in safeguarding the corporate interests of his Texas-fellows in Iraq, kept a relatively low tone on Afghanistan, Robert Gates is showing more concern over the Afghan affairs.

"If the people who are leading the struggle out here believe that there is need for some additional help to sustain the success that we've had, I am going to be very sympathetic to that kind of request," is how he responded to the question regarding the increased presence of US troops in Afghanistan. Being a former spy chief, Gates knows well the art of obdurately implementing his own game plan without giving the feel of obstinacy. Seen from President Bush's perspective, he has so far proven to be a good player.

Dr Imran Khalid is a freelance contributor to The Daily Star.