Robert Gates Unanimously Confirmed by Senate Armed Services Committee; Testifies U.S. is Not Winning Iraq War

The Senate Armed Services Committee has unanimously approved the nomination of Robert Gates to be the next Secretary of Defense. Gates testified before the committee Tuesday that the United States was not winning the war in Iraq and that all options remained on the table for dealing with the war.

In a 21-0 vote, the committee approved him to replace Donald Rumsfeld, who quit last month amid criticism of his Iraq policy. Gates's nomination now goes to the full Senate for a confirmation vote, which could be held as early as today. He is widely expected to win approval. In his opening statement Tuesday, Gates made it clear that he would make Iraq his highest priority.

ROBERT GATES, DEFENSE SECRETARY NOMINEE: I am under no illusion why I am sitting before you today -- the war in Iraq. Addressing the challenges we face in Iraq must and will be my highest priority, if confirmed.

The hearing came on a day when more than 60 people were killed in shootings and car bomb attacks in Iraq. Three US soldiers were also killed. Gates went on to say he was open to new ideas on Iraq but warned that the situation there could lead to a wider regional conflict.

GATES: While I am open to alternative ideas about our future strategy and tactics in Iraq, I feel quite strongly about one point: Developments in Iraq over the next year or two will, I believe, shape the entire Middle East and greatly influence global geopolitics for many years to come. Our course over the next year or two will determine whether the American and Iraqi people, and the next president of the United States, will face a slowly, but steadily improving situation in Iraq and in the region, or will face the very real risk, and possible reality, of a regional conflagration. We need to work together to develop a strategy that does not leave Iraq in chaos, and that protects our long-term interests in and hopes for the region.

I did not seek this position or a return to government. I am here because I love my country and because the president of the United States believes I can help in a difficult time.

During the hearing, the incoming chair of the Armed Services committee - Senator Carl Levin - listed for Gates what he said were the Bush administration's failures in Iraq.

SEN. CARL LEVIN (D-MA): The situation in Iraq has been getting steadily worse, not better. Before the invasion of Iraq, we failed to plan to provide an adequate force for the occupation of the country or to plan for the aftermath of major combat operations. After we toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003, we thoughtlessly disbanded the Iraqi army, and also disqualified tens of thousands of low-level Ba'ath Party members from future government employee -- employment. These actions contributed to the chaos and violence that followed, and to alienating substantial portions of the Iraqi population.

We have failed, so far, to secure the country and defeat the insurgency, and we have failed to disarm the militias and create a viable Iraqi military or police force. And we have failed to rebuild the economic infrastructure of the country and provide employment for the majority of Iraqis. The next secretary of Defense will have to deal with the consequences of those failures.

The Senate hearing on Robert Gates's nomination began a day before the Iraq Study Group releases its findings. Gates served on the panel until he was nominated. Arizona Republican and presidential hopeful John McCain has been calling for additional troops to be sent to Iraq. During Tuesday's hearing, McCain questioned Gates about troops levels and asked him again to clarify whether he thought the US was winning the war.


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