Robert M. Gates

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2007 – The spike in violence and the increase in the number of U.S. servicemembers killed in Iraq is tied to the new strategy that involves rooting insurgents out from their hiding places, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today.    » read more »

21 June 2007 -- Senior U.S. Defense Department officials said Thursday there will be more violence and more casualties in Iraq as the higher number of U.S. troops pursue their new offensive. They also endorsed moves by American commanders to work with, and even provide weapons to former insurgent groups that now say they want to support the government. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the top U.S. military officer, General Peter Pace, spoke at a news conference at the Pentagon.    » read more »

June 20, 2007 -- Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced that the President has nominated the following Army Reserve officer for promotion to brigadier general.

Additionally, the Chief of Staff, Army has approved the new assignment as indicated:

Col. Jimmie J. Wells, U.S. Army Reserve, commander (troop program unit), 208th Regional Support Group, Fort Sam Houston, Texas to commander, 1st Brigade, 75th Division (Training Support), Houston, Texas.

Source: DoD

14 June 2007 -- NATO nations have accepted the controversial U.S. missile defense system, and decided to focus the alliances' own missile defense efforts on protecting its southern flank against short and medium-range missiles from the Middle East. The moves come amid continuing Russian criticism of the U.S. program, and concern in the Czech Republic about hosting a radar for the system that would further antagonize Russia. VOA's Al Pessin reports from Brussels, where NATO defense ministers are meeting.    » read more »

13 June 2007 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he is concerned about the bombing of the Shi'ite shrine in Samarra, Iraq on Wednesday. But he says he hopes Iraqis will not respond with more sectarian violence, which he says is the aim of the bombers. VOA's Al Pessin is traveling with Secretary Gates and filed this report from Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

Secretary Gates says the bombing that destroyed two of the mosque's minarets worries him because a bombing last year that destroyed the mosque's golden dome sparked a surge of violence that is continuing.    » read more »

PARIS, June 5, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today that he and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice “are both puzzled by what the Russians are doing” in response to U.S. plans to build missile defense sites in Eastern Europe.

Speaking at a joint news conference with French Defense Minister Herve Morin, Gates said the two leaders had discussed the issue, including “some of the public statements coming out of Russia recently, especially by President (Vladimir) Putin.”    » read more »

Says Iraqi Army Confronting Challenges

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, June 5, 2007 – Although acknowledging he’d like to see faster progress in Iraq, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today refused to point fingers at the Iraqi army and said that force is standing up to challenges confronting it.

“We would certainly be happy if there was faster progress on the political front in terms of reunification,” Gates said in response to a question during a joint news conference with Gen. Lt. Ismail Isakov, the Kyrgyz defense minister.    » read more »

SINGAPORE, June 3, 2007 – It’s too soon to say if the United States and its coalition partners are winning the war on terror, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here yesterday.

Gates comments came as federal authorities in the United States announced they had broken up a suspected terrorist cell planning attacks at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Gates, here for the International Institute of Strategic Studies’ Asia Security Summit, cited “heartening developments” in the short term, but emphasized that long-term challenges remain.    » read more »

01 June 2007 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the United States is looking to a long-term military presence in Iraq similar to its arrangement with South Korea.

Gates says the presence would be based on a mutual agreement with Iraq. He says the agreement would protect the sovereignty of Iraq's government and limit what U.S. forces can do while in the country.

In addition to South Korea, Gates referred to Japan as another model for a long-term U.S. military presence.    » read more »

CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii, May 31, 2007 – Of all the challenges he confronts at the helm of the Defense Department, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today said one of the most difficult for him is writing condolence letters to families who have lost a loved on in the war on terror.

“I feel very strongly about the families of every soldier and Marine who is killed in Iraq or Afghanistan,” Gates told reporters today during a media roundtable at U.S. Pacific Command headquarters here.    » read more »

5/18/2007 -- WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The nation’s leaders gathered May 17 to recognize a group of young people taking the first step toward leading America’s Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates commissioned 55 ROTC cadets and midshipmen at the White House in a ceremony attended by President Bush and other political and military leaders.    » read more »

Feingold Writes Secretary Gates with Concerns Over Prolonged Medical Holds and Mental Health Treatment for Servicemembers

May 16, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Russ Feingold is seeking information from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) regarding prolonged medical holds and mental health treatment for members of the Armed Services. In a letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Feingold asked DoD to provide information about active duty, guard and reserve members on medical holds.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, May 10, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is exploring ways to speed up the timetable for getting more Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles to troops in Iraq.

Gates told reporters during yesterday’s Pentagon news conference that he’s impressed by what he’s read about the MRAPs and the improved troop protection they offer over up-armored Humvees.

He cited an article that noted that no Marines had been killed during 300 incidents in which their MRAPs were involved in improvised-explosive-device attacks. “That certainly got my attention,” he said.    » read more »

Asked if 2002 Resolution Still Valid, Responds "I Don't Know"

May 9, 2007 -- Washington, DC - U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates today testified that he did not know whether the 2002 resolution allowing the use of force against Iraq is still relevant.

U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., who asked Gates about the 2002 resolution at a Senate hearing Wednesday, was surprised by the answer.    » read more »

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas , May 4, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today thanked dozens of wounded warriors for their service and sacrifice during a visit to Brooke Army Medical Center here.

The personal visit “really shows you care,” Army 1st Lt. James Barclay, a burn patient wounded in Afghanistan on Aug. 19 by an improvised explosive device, told the secretary.

“There are a lot of people who care,” Gates responded, shaking the wounded soldier’s hand.    » read more »