US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates smiles during a press conference in Chicago, Illinios, on December 1, 2008. Gates Tuesday softened his opposition to a 16-month timetable for the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq advocated by president-elect Barack Obama. (AFP/File/Jim Watson)From Yahoo News/McClatchy Newspapers:
WASHINGTON — In his first news conference since President-elect Barack Obama asked him to stay on, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that he and Obama agree on the U.S. course in Iraq , but he couldn't commit to Obama's pledge of a 16-month withdrawal.
Instead, Gates said the pace of the drawdown would be one of several discussions in which he'll participate during the new administration.
As Gates answered questions on issues such as Iraq and Guantanamo , he walked a fine line between his role in the current and incoming administrations. He defended stands he'd taken during the Bush administration and at the same said he'd embrace some of Obama's proposed changes.
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