By Al Pessin Pentagon 03 December 2007 U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is in Afghanistan to discuss efforts to stem continuing violence caused by an apparently resurgent Taliban. VOA's Al Pessin is monitoring the trip from the Pentagon. Secretary...
By Al Pessin Pentagon 15 November 2007 U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says Pentagon funding shortfalls resulting from congressional debate about the conduct of the Iraq war could result in difficulty supplying the troops and significant layoffs...
By Al Pessin Pentagon 15 November 2007 U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says developments in Pakistan in the coming weeks will determine whether Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf can continue to be a U.S. partner in the global war on terrorism....
By Dan Robinson Capitol Hill 08 November 2007 The U.S. House of Representatives Thursday overwhelmingly approved a $460-billion spending bill for the Defense Department, clearing the way for a vote in the Senate. VOA's Dan Robinson reports, the measu...
By Al Pessin Washington 01 November 2007 U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he believes the top Iranian leader is aware of the effort by the country's elite Quds Force to help Shiite insurgents in Iraq. And he confirmed that Iran's president ha...
By Al Pessin Kyiv 22 October 2007 U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has criticized NATO allies for their failure to meet their own commitments for troops in Afghanistan. He made the comment as he announced that some Southeastern European nations in...
By Al Pessin Lima 06 October 2007 U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates discussed the fight against drug trafficking and other international crime during a visit to Peru Friday. VOA's Al Pessin reports from Lima. A Peruvian defense ministry official sa...
By Al Pessin Santiago 04 October 2007 U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has expressed concern that the slow process of approval for U.S. arms sales is forcing some countries, including Iraq, to buy weapons elsewhere. VOA's Al Pessin reports from Sa...
By Al Pessin Santiago, Chile 04 October 2007 U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he wants to give the coalition military command in Iraq a larger role in coordinating the activity of private security contractors that operate in the country. He s...
By Meredith Buel Washington 14 September 2007 Robert Gates Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he hopes U.S. troop levels in Iraq can be cut to about 100,000 by the end of next year, a figure that is well beyond cuts recently approved by President Bu...