Gates: 'Mixed picture' of war accurate

[babylonsister]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070615/ap_on_re_mi_ea/gates;_ylt=ArV4eQdC2iSUrR94DDNDPU2s0NUE

Gates: 'Mixed picture' of war accurate

By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer 32 minutes ago

BAGHDAD - Defense Secretary Robert Gates used a surprise visit to Iraq on Friday to express support for the top U.S. commander here, denying that the military is painting an overly optimistic picture of how the war is going.

"It's a very mixed picture," Gates told reporters on his plane when asked whether the military and Gen. David Petraeus were offering realistic assessments of the violence that continues in Baghdad even after the number of U.S. troops has been increased over the past few months.

"I have every confidence in General Petraeus and in his ability and willingness to call it as he sees it," Gates said. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has questioned whether the top commander in Iraq was being candid.

Gates arrived in Baghdad late Friday night to meet with Iraqi political leaders and U.S. military leaders, including Petraeus. This is his fourth trip to the country since taking over as defense chief in December; his most recent stop here was in April.

The additional five U.S. combat brigades that make up the recent U.S. troop buildup are now all in Iraq, as part of an increased effort to stabilize the violence in Baghdad. Gates' visit came as Iraqi officials ordered a citywide security crackdown after the bombing Wednesday that toppled the two minarets of the Askariya mosque about 60 miles north of the city.

Earlier this week, Reid accused Petraeus and Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, of failing to provide Congress a frank assessment of the Iraq war.

more...