Defense Secretary-designate Robert Gates, President Bush's choice to replace Donald Rumsfeld, answers questions from members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)
That's the question.
Robert Gates, being questioned by the Senate Armed Services Committee at his confirmation hearing, has a simple anwser.
When Carl Levin asked Gates if we are winning the war, he said, "No, sir."
From Reuters:
Robert Gates, U.S. President George W. Bush's choice to run the Pentagon, said on Tuesday America was not winning in Iraq and the next year or two would determine whether the Middle East explodes into violence.
Appearing at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Gates said Bush wanted him to take a fresh look at the war and that all options were on the table.
"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 and steadily improving situation in Iraq and in the region or will face the very real risk of a regional conflagration," Gates said.
Asked by Democratic Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan if the United States was winning in Iraq, Gates replied: "No, sir."
That's making headlines.
The defense secretary nominee has declared that we aren't winning in Iraq.
He later said he believed the U.S. was not losing either "at this point."
Surprisingly, Reuters points this out.
Gates doesn't believe the U.S. is losing in Iraq.
Why isn't that the headline?
U.S. NOT LOSING IN IRAQ: PENTAGON NOMINEE GATES
Like Reuters, The New York Times has splashed the "not winning in Iraq."
Other outlets are following suit.
The sound bite all over radio and TV is that Gates says we are not winning the war.
No wonder the American public is so misinformed.
The media do a disservice when they cherry pick quotes and fail to provide the context and the complete story.
Gates went on to say:
"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," he said.
That certainly doesn't sound like Gates is for a speedy troop withdrawal, does it?
...Many Democrats have advocated a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, to begin in four to six months, and say their victory in last month's election gives that option a popular mandate.
Gates said he would consult widely on the options in Iraq but did not say which he favored.
"In my view, all options are on the table in terms of how we address this problem in Iraq," Gates said.
Once again, the Dems prove how clueless they are, and how willing they are to appease and to accept defeat.
Doing what's right and doing what's popular are different things.
Doing what's right isn't always doing what's easiest.
Leaving some semblance of order and a functioning government in Iraq has always been the goal of the Bush administration.
It sounds like Gates is on board with that goal.
Wearing U.S. Flag cuff links, Defense Secretary-designate Robert Gates testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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Read Al Jazeera's take on the Gates' comments.
"Gates: US not winning Iraq war
The next US defence minister has admitted the US is stuck in Iraq."
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