Defense Secretary Nominee Gates Says U.S. Not Winning in Iraq

KWAME HOLMAN:

Of all the problems and concerns Robert Gates could inherit as secretary of defense, the war in Iraq by far is the most pressing.

ROBERT GATES, Secretary of Defense-Designate: 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.

KWAME HOLMAN:

Iraq also was foremost on the minds of senators on the Armed Services Committee as they questioned Gates. As a former member of the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group, Gates tried to respond with his working knowledge of the issues.

But the committee's top Democrat, Carl Levin, might have tripped up Gates with this direct question.

SEN. CARL LEVIN (D), Michigan: Mr. Gates, do you believe that we are currently winning in Iraq?

ROBERT GATES:

No, sir.

KWAME HOLMAN:

Gates thought better of that answer after the committee broke for lunch.

ROBERT GATES:

While I was having lunch and eating my sandwich, I was watching the news, and I certainly stand by my statement this morning that I agreed with General Pace that we are not winning but we are not losing.

But I want to make clear that that pertains to the situation in Iraq as a whole. Our military forces win the battles that they fight; our soldiers have done an incredible job in Iraq. And I'm not aware of a single battle that they have lost. And I didn't want my comments to be interpreted as suggesting that they weren't being successful in their endeavors.