Gates hopes for bipartisan Iraq solution

[unhappycamper]

Gates hopes for bipartisan Iraq solution
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Apr 11, 2008 6:04:23 EDT

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday he has not given up hope of forging a bipartisan long-term agreement on U.S. policy in Iraq because he is concerned about what might happen when the next administration takes office.

“It was my hope 16 months ago that I could help forge a bipartisan path forward in our Iraq policy that would sustain a steadily lower, but still adequate and necessary, level of commitment for the years needed to yield an Iraq that is an ally against extremists and can govern and defend itself,” Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“I continue to harbor this hope for a bipartisan path and will continue to work for it,” he said.

“I do fear that understandable frustration over years of war and dismay over sacrifices already made may result in decisions that are gratifying in the short term but very costly to our country and the American people in the long term,” Gates said.

Gates said history shows that mistakes in such situations are difficult to correct. Missteps made at the end of the Cold War, he said, are partly to blame for terrorist groups taking root in Afghanistan, leading to the 2001 attacks on the U.S. and continued U.S. operations there.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/04/military_gatesiraq_whatnext_041008w/