During a wide-ranging 45-minute town hall-style meeting with several hundred U.S.troops, Secretary Gates was asked whether there is any plan for military action against Iran.

VOA: standard.2009.12.12

According to lore, Bill Gates asked Myhrvold to set up IV to help defend Microsoft from patent trolls.

FORBES: Magazine Article

The lore at Intellectual Ventures has it that Bill Gates asked Myhrvold to set up the company to help defend Microsoft from attacks from patent trolls.

FORBES: Patent Stalker

As the hours evaporated, Microsoft chairman BILL GATES asked for a final session in which to plead his case for allowing Windows 98 to be marketed without any Federal Government objections.

CNN: The Scoop: Gates and Klein Meet Face to Face