Gates takes helm at Pentagon — UNITED STATES | 世界のニュースを英語で読むならジャパンタイムズウィークリー


	UPDATE: Saturday, June 12, 2010 The Japan Times Weekly 2006年12月23日号（バックナンバー）

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Gates takes helm at Pentagon

Robert Gates AP PHOTO

Robert Gates assumed the helm at the Defense Department on Dec. 18, saying Iraq is his top priority and warning that failure there would be a "calamity" that would haunt the United States for many years.

"All of us want to find a way to bring America's sons and daughters home again," Gates said after taking the oath of office as defense secretary from Vice President Dick Cheney at a Pentagon ceremony.

Gates said he intends to travel to Iraq soon to hear the "unvarnished" views of U.S. commanders on how to improve the situation.

President George W. Bush called Gates, 63, "the right man" for the multiple challenges in Iraq and the global war on terrorism.

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