Pentagon chief nominee says U.S. is not winning in Iraq

Robert Gates, picked by U.S. President George W. Bush to head Pentagon, said Tuesday that the country is not winning the war in Iraq and risks regional disaster in one or two years.

However, as recently as October, Bush said the United States was winning the war.

At his Senate confirmation hearing, Gates gave no timeline for ending the conflict in Iraq, but repeatedly referenced "the next year or two" when discussing U.S. options.

"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.

Situation in Iraq by that time will "greatly influence global geopolitics for many years to come," Gates noted.

The former CIA director said his greatest worry is that "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."

He said Iran and Syria are integral to the "long-term stability " of Iraq and the United States should consider "incentives or disincentives to bring them to be constructive, " a view that is not shared by Bush apparently.

The nominee said he would pursue a bipartisan agreement to answer questions not only about the military concerns in Iraq, but the political ones as well.

Gates also said if confirmed, he would quickly consult military commanders in the field and politicians back home to determine the best course of action in Iraq, but "I will give most serious consideration to the views of those who lead our men and women in uniform."

Before the hearing, Bush said in a statement that he hopes for "speedy confirmation so he (Gates) can get sworn in and get to work."

Gates was nominated on Nov. 8 to replace current Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, two days after Democrats took control of both houses of Congress in midterm elections dominated by concerns about the Iraq war.

Republican and Democratic leaders Senate Armed Service Committee have agreed to proceed with Gates' confirmation this year, rather than wait until the Senate changes guard in January.

So far no significant opposition to Gates' nomination has surfaced.

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

Gates, 63, currently president of Texas A&M University, had served as national security adviser and CIA director during President George H.W. Bush's administration.

Source: Xinhua