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Monday, December 18, 2006

Secretary Gates' Swearing-In Remarks - 18 Dec 2006

Seal of the U.S. Dept. of Defense Secretary Gates' Swearing-In Remarks

As Delivered by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Pentagon Auditorium, The Pentagon, Monday, December 18, 2006

"All of us want to find a way to bring America's sons and daughters home again, but as the president has made clear, we simply cannot afford to fail in the Middle East," the new secretary said. "Failure in Iraq at this juncture would be a calamity that would haunt our nation, impair our credibility and endanger Americans for decades to come.

"In the days since the Senate confirmed me, I have participated in most of the National Security Council meetings on Iraq, I've received a number of briefings here at the Department of Defense, and I've discussed the situation and way forward in Iraq in depth with the president," he said.

"I intend to travel quite soon to Iraq and meet with our military leaders and other personnel there," Gates added. "I look forward to hearing their honest assessments of the situation on the ground and having the benefit of their advice, unvarnished and straight from the shoulder, on how to proceed in the weeks and months ahead."

Read the entire speech: http://www.defenselink.mil/Speeches/Speech.aspx?SpeechID=1077

Posted by Paul Anderson at 14:36.33
Edited on: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 16:07.14
Categories: Military