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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| US 'not winning conflict in Iraq' | US 'not winning conflict in Iraq' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| US Defence Secretary nominee Robert Gates has told a Senate committee that the US is not winning the war in Iraq. | US Defence Secretary nominee Robert Gates has told a Senate committee that the US is not winning the war in Iraq. |
| Mr Gates told a confirmation hearing he was open to new ideas on Iraq, but warned the situation there would shape the Middle East for years to come. | |
| He is set to be confirmed to replace Donald Rumsfeld, who quit last month amid criticism of his Iraq policy. | He is set to be confirmed to replace Donald Rumsfeld, who quit last month amid criticism of his Iraq policy. |
| The next chairman of the committee said Mr Gates would face a "monumental challenge" in Iraq if he got the job. | The next chairman of the committee said Mr Gates would face a "monumental challenge" in Iraq if he got the job. |
| Senate hearings on Mr Gates's nomination began a day before the Iraq Study Group - of which Mr Gates was a member - publishes its findings. | Senate hearings on Mr Gates's nomination began a day before the Iraq Study Group - of which Mr Gates was a member - publishes its findings. |
| The session also came on another violent day in Iraq. | The session also came on another violent day in Iraq. |
| More than 30 people were killed in shootings and car bomb attacks in Baghdad, Iraqi officials said. At least 30 more died in violence in northern and south-western Iraq. | More than 30 people were killed in shootings and car bomb attacks in Baghdad, Iraqi officials said. At least 30 more died in violence in northern and south-western Iraq. |
| 'Regional conflagration' | 'Regional conflagration' |
| Mr Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee that all options remained on the table for Iraq. | Mr Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee that all options remained on the table for Iraq. |
| Profile: Robert Gates | Profile: Robert Gates |
| He agreed with the panel that the situation was unacceptable and said he would introduce a change of tactics, if confirmed. | He agreed with the panel that the situation was unacceptable and said he would introduce a change of tactics, if confirmed. |
| Mr Gates said he would do his utmost to avoid chaos in Iraq. | Mr Gates said he would do his utmost to avoid chaos in Iraq. |
| "Our course over the next year or two will determine whether the American and Iraqi people and the next president of the US will face a slowly but steadily improving situation in Iraq or... the very real risk and possible reality of a regional conflagration," he said. | "Our course over the next year or two will determine whether the American and Iraqi people and the next president of the US will face a slowly but steadily improving situation in Iraq or... the very real risk and possible reality of a regional conflagration," he said. |
| Asked by the next chairman of the panel, Democratic Senator Carl Levin, if he believed the US was winning, Mr Gates replied: "No, Sir." | Asked by the next chairman of the panel, Democratic Senator Carl Levin, if he believed the US was winning, Mr Gates replied: "No, Sir." |
| He later said he believed the US was neither winning nor losing, "at this point". | |
| Mr Levin said the US needed someone who would speak the truth, and not just tell the president what he wanted to hear. | Mr Levin said the US needed someone who would speak the truth, and not just tell the president what he wanted to hear. |
| Mr Gates said the president would have the last say on any changes in approach, but he would speak his mind to both Mr Bush and Congress. | |
| He said he did not give up his position as president of a Texas university and return to Washington to "be a bump on a log". | |
| In wide-ranging remarks, the nominee also: | |
| |
| Phased withdrawal | |
| If the panel approves his nomination, the 63-year-old is likely to appear before the full Senate for a confirmation hearing later this week. | If the panel approves his nomination, the 63-year-old is likely to appear before the full Senate for a confirmation hearing later this week. |
| Democratic senators are thought unlikely to oppose Mr Gates's nomination not least because they are keen to see Mr Rumsfeld leave the role quickly. | Democratic senators are thought unlikely to oppose Mr Gates's nomination not least because they are keen to see Mr Rumsfeld leave the role quickly. |
| Mr Gates met Mr Bush for breakfast at the White House before the hearing, after which the president said the nominee would "do an excellent job". | Mr Gates met Mr Bush for breakfast at the White House before the hearing, after which the president said the nominee would "do an excellent job". |
| Mr Gates stood down from the bipartisan Iraq Study Group - which has been asked to recommend ways of tackling the problems the US faces in Iraq - after Mr Bush picked him to replace Mr Rumsfeld. | Mr Gates stood down from the bipartisan Iraq Study Group - which has been asked to recommend ways of tackling the problems the US faces in Iraq - after Mr Bush picked him to replace Mr Rumsfeld. |
| The group's recommendations are widely expected to include a gradual phased withdrawal of US troops over the next 18 months. | The group's recommendations are widely expected to include a gradual phased withdrawal of US troops over the next 18 months. |
| It is also thought to favour the idea of holding a regional conference on Iraq that would involve Syria and Iran, with whom Washington has refused to negotiate directly. | It is also thought to favour the idea of holding a regional conference on Iraq that would involve Syria and Iran, with whom Washington has refused to negotiate directly. |
| Mr Bush has indicated he will look closely at, but not necessarily follow, the group's suggestions. | Mr Bush has indicated he will look closely at, but not necessarily follow, the group's suggestions. |