Robert M. Gates

20 April 2008 -- The New York Times newspaper reports the Pentagon used military analysts working for U.S. television networks to generate favorable coverage of the war in Iraq and other issues.

The newspaper Sunday said the analysts were invited to private briefings with senior military leaders, taken on tours of Iraq and given access to classified intelligence.

Fox News gift store at Houston airport: Photo by ario_j (CC)

The Times also said viewers were not made aware that most of the analysts have ties to military contractors. Many of the analysts are retired high-ranking military officials.    » read more »

16 April 2008 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the United States needs to overhaul its approach to national security.

Gates told U.S. lawmakers Tuesday there needs to be what he called a "fairly dramatic change" to better protect the U.S. from terrorists and other threats. He said the United States is operating under an outdated security model designed 60 years ago to fight and win the Cold War.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates: White House photo    » read more »

Mar 18, 2008 -- MOSCOW — Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice landed here March 17 for two days of talks with their Russian counterparts aimed at gaining ground on key issues that could forge ahead a missile defense plan for all of Europe.

Speaking to reporters during the flight, Gates said a full range of topics is on the table, including economic relationships, counterterrorism and arms sales. But on top on the agenda is locking in some type of commitment by Russia for the U.S. plan to post defensive missiles in Europe, the secretary said.    » read more »

March 14, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy sent the following letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, requesting a report on all detainee interrogation videotapes, transcripts, and related documents that have been created or destroyed by the Department.

Senator Kennedy has previously made similar requests to the Attorney General and to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. His letter also asks Secretary Gates to take appropriate steps to guarantee the preservation of all interrogation tapes in the Department’s effective control.    » read more »

February 27, 2008 -- Washington, DC – United States Senators Joe Biden (D-DE), Kit Bond (R-MO), Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) sent a letter today to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, calling for the Department of Defense to investigate repeated delays in getting wartime equipment to our troops on the frontlines.    » read more »

February 11, 2008 -- Recognizing that the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan will not be the last of their kind, a new RAND Corporation study issued today finds that U.S. capabilities to meet the threat of Islamist insurgencies are seriously deficient and out of balance.    » read more »

Defense Sec., while in Baghdad today, said he is leaning toward halting withdrawals

February 11, 2008 -- WASHINGTON – Today in Baghdad, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said he is leaning toward halting the draw-down of American troops in Iraq once U.S. forces hit the 130,000 troop level.

Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee who recently returned from a trip to Iraq, released the following statement:    » read more »

February 11, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement on remarks in Baghdad today by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, in which he said he would pause troop withdrawals from Iraq this summer, keeping the number at the pre-surge level:    » read more »

February 11, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Senator Barack Obama issued the following statement in response to Secretary Gates' comments on pausing troop reductions.

"I strongly disagree with the Administration's plans to "pause" the long overdue removal of our combat brigades from Iraq.

We cannot wage war without end in Iraq while ignoring mounting costs to our troops and their families, our security and our economy.    » read more »

2/11/2008 -- “I want to say one other thing, and that is, I was very disheartened to hear Secretary Gates, as reported today, suggest that the withdrawal of our troops from Iraq would not continue at the pace that had been expected.    » read more »

11 February 2008 -- Two car bombs have killed at least 19 people in Baghdad as U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates completed a two-day visit to Iraq.

The car bombs exploded almost simultaneously Monday in southern Baghdad, near a building where Sunni tribal chiefs opposed to al-Qaida were meeting. The tribesmen were among about 40 people wounded in the attack.

In another development, Iraqi officials say electricity has been cut in much of northern Iraq after two blasts hit the country's energy infrastructure.    » read more »

11 February 2008 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says there may need to be a "pause" in troop reductions in Iraq once the initial pullouts are complete in July.

Gates spoke Monday in Baghdad, during a previously unannounced visit to discuss troop reductions with top American military officials.    » read more »

United States Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing

February 6, 2008 -- (As Prepared for Delivery)

I join in welcoming Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen to our Committee today.

The Administration is rapidly moving forward on negotiations to sign a permanent, long-term agreement with the Iraqis on the role of the U.S. military in future operations in Iraq. An agreement is expected to be concluded by mid-July.    » read more »

February 6, 2008 -- "Good morning. The committee meets this morning to receive testimony from the Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen. Joining them is the Comptroller of the Department of Defense, Tina Jonas. Our witnesses are here to present the President’s fiscal year 2009 budget request for the Department of Defense, including both the so-called “base” budget and the additional $70 billion bridge fund requested for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for the first part of fiscal year 2009.    » read more »

06 February 2008 -- Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says a future Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) negotiated with the Iraqi government will not include a formal arrangement requiring the United States to defend Iraq.

U.S. and Iraqi officials hope to conclude a bilateral agreement on military, political and economic cooperation, including the role of U.S. forces, within the next six months.    » read more »