Gates: U.S. not winning in iraq

[almaty 19]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Asked if he thought the United States was winning the war in Iraq, defense secretary nominee Robert Gates answered with a simple "No, sir."

Incoming Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Michigan, asked the question during Gates' Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday.

Gates, a former CIA director, also told Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, that the "status quo isn't acceptable" and said that the United States invaded Iraq with insufficient troop levels. (Watch Gates explain that Iraq will be his "highest priority" )

The nominee said he suspects that, in hindsight, the Bush administration would have handled some decision differently, "and I think one of those is that there clearly were insufficient troops in Iraq after the initial invasion to establish control over the country."

Without providing any specific timeline for the conflict, Gates suggested that the war would last another year or two.

"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," he said.

Shortly before that comment, Gates said that "developments in Iraq over the next year or two" would shape the Middle East and "greatly influence global geo-politics for many years to come."

The nominee also told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he was "open to new ideas" regarding policy in Iraq and that "all options are on the table."

"I am under no illusion why I am sitting before you today: the war in Iraq," Gates told the committee. "I welcome the many alternative strategies and tactics proposed by members of Congress and others."

Gates said that, if confirmed, he would quickly consult military commanders in the field and politicians back home to determine the best course of action in Iraq.

In making policy recommendations, however, "I will give most serious consideration to the views of those who lead our men and women in uniform," he said.

Gates conceded that his position allows him only so much authority in the matter and that "it is the president who will decide what, if any, changes are made in our approach."

Iran and Syria

The nominee also took questions about Iran and Syria, countries with which the United States has had testy relationships.

Gates said he did not see how Iran could threaten the United States militarily, but "I think that their capacity to potentially close off the Persian Gulf to all exports of oil, their potential to unleash a significant wave of terror, in the Middle East and in Europe and even here in this country, is very real."

He also said Iran was "certainly not being helpful in Iraq" and was working against U.S. interests there. However, he said, "I think they could do a lot more to hurt our effort in Iraq."

Gates said Syria was even less equipped to exact harm on the United States, "but I believe that a military attack by the United States on Syria would have dramatic consequences for us throughout the Middle East in terms of our relationships with a wide range of countries in that area"

He added, "I think that it would give rise to significantly greater anti-Americanism than we have seen to date. I think it would immensely complicate our relationships with virtually every country in the region."

However, Gates added, the mishandling of situations in Iran and Syria isn't the only course that could ignite regional instability.

"My greatest worry, if we mishandle the next year or two and if we leave Iraq in chaos, is that a variety of regional powers will become involved in Iraq, and we will have a regional conflict on our hands," Gates said.

Warner: Bush, Gates must consult with Democrats

As the hearing began, the outgoing Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee warned President Bush and Gates to consult with Democrats before changing Iraq policy.

Speaking at the beginning of Gates' confirmation hearing, Sen. John Warner, R-Virginia, said consultations with Democrats who will assume congressional control in January would fulfill a "moral obligation" lawmakers have to those fighting in Iraq.

Warner said consultations should come after Bush reviews reports on Iraq being prepared by the nonpartisan Iraq Study Group, the Pentagon and other agencies involved in the war.

Warner also cautioned Gates to keep Congress in the loop on Iraq if his nomination is approved, quoting from a book Gates wrote about serving in the White House, "From the Shadows."

"I sat in the situation room in secret meetings for nearly 20 years under five presidents, and all I can say is that some awfully crazy schemes might well have been approved had everyone present not known and expected hard questions, debate and criticism from the Hill," Warner quoted from Gates' book.

In closing Warner told Gates "to be fearless -- I repeat -- fearless" in giving advice to the president.

Following Warner, Levin said that, if confirmed, Gates faces "the monumental challenge of picking up the pieces from broken policies and mistaken priorities in the past few years."

"The situation in Iraq has been getting steadily worse, not better," Levin said. "... We failed to plan to provide an adequate force for the occupation of the country."

Bush calls for speedy confirmation

Before heading to Capitol Hill, Gates met with the president at the White House for breakfast.

"I hope for speedy confirmation so he can get sworn in and get to work," Bush said in a brief statement afterward. (Watch why Gates is expected to be approved )

Gates, the 63-year-old president of Texas A&M University, was nominated on November 8, the day after Democrats took control of both houses of Congress in midterm elections dominated by concerns about the Iraq war.

GOP and Democratic leaders on the committee agreed to proceed with Gates' confirmation this year, rather than wait until the Senate changes guard in January. (Watch Gates' judgment day )

Donald Rumsfeld will continue in the post until the Senate approves his successor.

So far, no significant opposition to Gates' nomination has surfaced. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said he would be confirmed unless something "untoward" turns up during the hearings.

Gates served as national security adviser and CIA director during the administration of Bush's father, former President George H.W. Bush.

Questions about Iran-Contra

Gates' nomination process is expected to be much different than in 1987 when he was forced to withdraw his nomination as CIA director under the weight of the Iran-Contra affair.

Iran-Contra involved two secret operations during former President Ronald Reagan's administration which involved selling arms to Iran in exchange for U.S. hostages in Lebanon. It also involved supplying arms to the Contra guerrillas fighting the leftist government of Nicaragua.

The controversy plagued the final two years of Reagan's presidency and damaged the final political campaign of the senior Bush.

Showing signs he is unafraid to voice his opinion in an administration with a reputation for not receiving it well, Gates has criticized the handling of the war in Iraq. He has pledged to improve Pentagon postwar planning if he is confirmed.

Gates also endorsed the idea of engaging Iran and Syria for help in stabilizing Iraq, an opinion Bush does not share.

Gates made the comments in response to a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation questionnaire.

"War planning should be done with the understanding that the post-major combat phase of operations can be crucial," Gates wrote in a 65-page written response.

But even Rumsfeld knew the war, in part, was not working and alternative strategies were necessary.

According to Saturday's New York Times, before he resigned, Rumsfeld told Bush in a November 6 classified memo that the administration's Iraq plan was not working. In a memo, Rumsfeld proposed various changes, including possible troop reductions. (Watch what senators say about Rumsfeld memo )

Until stepping down after his nomination, Gates was also a member of the Iraq Study Group, which on Wednesday will unveil its recommended changes in the administration's war strategy.

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

dayum. there goes my bet in Vegas!

Daniel

:energetic:

[mawilson 2,133]

Yah well what does Bill Gates know about Iraq?

[Reynaldo 0]

Yah well what does Bill Gates know about Iraq?

That was exactly my first thought when I read the title.

[Savanphil 3]

Without providing any specific timeline for the conflict, Gates suggested that the war would last another year or two.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Gates said he did not see how Iran could threaten the United States militarily, but "I think that their capacity to potentially close off the Persian Gulf to all exports of oil, their potential to unleash a significant wave of terror, in the Middle East and in Europe and even here in this country, is very real."

We've been jacking with Iran ever since the CIA took out Mossadeq.

[almaty 19]

he sounds more realistic than that chopf##k rumie

[Marc and Olga 0]

Gates, a former CIA director, also told Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, that the "status quo isn't acceptable" and said that the United States invaded Iraq with insufficient troop levels. (Watch Gates explain that Iraq will be his "highest priority" )

True that and THAT is what I believe the midterm election said, not let's get out but let's do something productive and not the same old stagnation President Bush has been harping..."Stay the course"

[*julez* 124]

What??? We're not winning the war in Iraq??? This is truly shocking news! I need to go and have a drink now.

[DeadPoolX 9]

Actually, what Gates was saying (and what the media doesn't seem to be reporting, for some reason or another) was that while we're not winning in Iraq, we aren't losing militarily either. Militarily speaking, we haven't lost a single battle or engagement. Where the U.S. is losing the war is politically and socially. Unfortunately, it doesn't really matter how well you wage a war militarily if you lose politically and socially -- we witnessed this in Vietnam, where the U.S. won every battle, but still lost the overall war.