You knew this was coming: “[Defense Secretary Robert] Gates said that a New York Times article that revealed the existence of the memo ‘mischaracterized its purpose and content’ when it suggested Gates has despaired that the administration lacked a strategy for dealing with Iran’s nuclear program.”

Really, they do have an Iran policy, honest. And the Gates memo didn’t wake up anyone or change anything. A White House spokesman insisted, “It is absolutely false that any memo touched off a reassessment of our options.”

Well, that part is believable. In short, the rush was on to have Gates reassure everyone that the president’s got everything under control:

[T]he administration apparently believed Gates had to address the issue. “There should be no confusion by our allies and adversaries that the United States is properly and energetically focused on this question and prepared to act across a broad range of contingencies in support of our interests,” Gates said.

Feel reassured? Believe the damage control? No, of course not. The Gates memo created a firestorm not because this was news to anyone following the Obami’s unserious Iran strategy but precisely because everyone understands there is no viable plan that Obama seems willing to employ to halt the mullahs’ nuclear program. The Obami’s solution to each and every foreign policy debacle is misdirection (Look — a nonproliferation summit!), misrepresentation (The Chinese are on board!), delay (Maybe in June we’ll have sanctions), and resignation to American feebleness (Well, who’s to say if sanctions will work?).

In the meantime, perhaps Congress should exercise its oversight responsibilities and get Gates up to the Hill to testify. I’m sure it would prove enlightening as he explains what the Obami intend to do if the itty-bitty sanctions don’t work.