Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Karen Lawrence who wrote (755759)	12/6/2006 6:39:12 PM
From: pompsander	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

Gee...two republicans are the only ones to vote against Gates... ______________________________ Senate overwhelmingly backs Gates for Pentagon By Susan Cornwell 33 minutes ago WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly confirmed Robert Gates as the next defense secretary, replacing Donald Rumsfeld, an architect of the increasingly unpopular Iraq war. The Senate voted 95-2 to approve President George W. Bush's nominee only 24 hours after Gates won the unanimous endorsement of the Armed Services Committee -- and just as a long-awaited bipartisan report arrived, urging more diplomacy and fewer U.S. troops in Iraq. Only Republicans Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and Jim Bunning of Kentucky voted against Gates. Senators from both parties praised the ex- CIA chief's candor; Gates had told them bluntly the United States was not winning the war in Iraq. "Dr. Gates spoke with candor -- a candor that has been sorely missing from the Department of Defense under this administration," said Sen. Edward Kennedy (news, bio, voting record), a Massachusetts Democrat. "He recognized the high price that our troops are paying for the current policy." But senators also emphasized the daunting task before Gates in addressing Iraq, and their awareness that he must work with Bush. "Dr. Gates is poised to take an extraordinarily difficult job at one of the most dangerous times in American history," Sen. Jack Reed (news, bio, voting record), a Rhode Island Democrat, said during debate. "We see the possibilities of a new chapter ... but it is up to the commander in chief to structure a change in policy," added Sen. Arlen Specter (news, bio, voting record), a Pennsylvania Republican. Bush promptly telephoned Gates to congratulate him on his confirmation, the White House said. Spokeswoman Dana Perino said Gates would be sworn in on December 18. Gates says Iraq will be his first priority in his new post; he plans to travel to Baghdad soon, where he intends to talk to U.S. commanders. Bush nominated Gates, a CIA director during the administration of the president's father, last month after voters swept Republicans out of power in an election driven in large part by frustration over the Iraq war. In the more than three years since the U.S.-led invasion, the conflict has claimed the lives of more than 2,900 Americans and at least tens of thousands of Iraqis. Bush has said he will consider alternatives, including those offered on Wednesday by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. Gates said he believed all options were on the table. But not every senator who backed Gates favors a U.S. troop drawdown. Sen. Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record), a South Carolina Republican, told the Senate he favored a "surge" of more U.S. troops in the near term to get the violence under control. "I do hope that he will commit himself to winning this war, and the way to win is to provide security so the political process can be successful," Graham said.