The fears are valid, but not sound. The historical premise is correct, but the fact that the mosque is not. Your attack on me is misguided, as I am only trying to display a possibility of the basic logic employed by the pastor in question, rather than the poo-poo him on the spot as an incendiary nutjob - something that the lot of you are doing.
The bottom line is Gates did that because he cares for his soldiers and will do what is required to see them succeed in their mission in accordance with direction from the POTUS. This is what he did, and in doing so he has been more reasonable and effective than your sensationalist and/or inaccurate MSM or the elected officials who have cried in front of the cameras - something which only emboldened the pastor. Trust me, the reputation of the DNC is such that the more liberals like you whine and say mean names, the more hardline conservatives are emboldened. They have all but given up on talking to you in a rational fashion. I'm almost there myself.
The Pastor now has an opportunity to better understand the premises of the situation. Other people may follow their example, but others may not. People with a conservative background and have influence are likely to respect the request of the Cabinet member due to a combination of the fine taste in political credential (in their mind), his position, and his reputation. Yes, the phone call might give him more credibility, but it gives him the opportunity to save face in front of his congregation - something the lot of you have outright denied.