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BETTY
NGUYEN: Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he doubts
the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan will exceed
the number in Iraq. He did speak about the war in
Afghanistan today while making an unannounced visit
to Iraq. Let's go live now to CNN's Michael Ware in
Baghdad.
What a surprise there for the troops.
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Betty, the
Secretary of Defense said his trip had been weeks in
the planning.
However, obviously security meant that that was kept
a close-guarded secret. He said that this was meant
to be his farewell tour as Secretary of Defense but
that was until President-elect Obama asked him to
continue as Secretary of Defense.
Now, Secretary Gates mentioned how crucial the phase
right now was in the war in Iraq. As he explained why
he re-uped to continue serving under the new
administration as the boss of the defense forces.
When he was talking about this, he also said that the
mission in Iraq was not yet over, that America's
enemies remained resilient and that it was vital to
end the game here in Iraq. The secretary also said
whilst troop numbers in Iraq will come down, he was
heartened by the fact that President-elect Obama had
already indicated that he'll be listening to his
commanders on the ground in the war here as to the
timing of that withdrawal.
So an unexpected visit by all of us from the
Secretary of Defense as he sits down today at Balad
Air Base just north of the capital of Baghdad,
talking with his top commanders here on the ground --
Betty.
NGUYEN: All right, we do appreciate it. Michael Ware
joining us live from Baghdad on that unexpected trip.
Thank you, Michael.
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ALINA CHO:
Welcome back. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is in
Baghdad at this hour. It was a surprise visit and
that critical visit comes as the U.S. prepares for a
transfer of power and a withdrawal of troops. That
trip comes amid a recent spike in violence, too.
CNN's Michael Ware is in the Iraqi capital with more
for us.
As many people know, Michael, Secretary Gates plans
to stay on for at least another year. Commanders on
the ground clearly need to know what the Obama
administration has planned and especially how to get
those troops out safely by 2011. I imagine this is a
briefing as much as it is anything else.
MICHAEL WARE, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Well, I would
imagine so. This will be a concerted back-and-forth
from the commanders in the field to their civilian
boss, the secretary, Robert Gates.
Now, when he landed on the ground here at Balad
Airbase, just north of the capital, Baghdad, where
I'm standing now, Secretary Gates said that the
mission was not yet over, and though U.S. troops
would start to draw down next year, he said he was
nonetheless heartened by president-elect Obama's
comments that he would listen to the field commanders
to gauge how quickly to pull them home.
Now, he said all of this while he was explaining not
just the crucial phase, he says, is now confronting
America in Iraq, but elsewhere in the region, as he
was telling why he chose to stay on as Secretary of
Defense.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT GATES, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: There are a lot
of reasons to accept President-elect Obama's request
to stay on as Secretary of Defense. Among others, the
crucial next phase we're entering here in Iraq, the
plus-up of forces in Afghanistan, the tough choices
in a tough economy that the Pentagon is going to need
to make regarding the budget and priorities, and a
wounded warrior care system that still needs more
work, but I will tell you that no reason was more
compelling to me than the fact that hundreds of
thousands of young Americans are doing their duty.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WARE: And he told the troops around him at Balad
Airbase that that duty will continue. He said the
mission was not over, as I said, for America's
enemies were resilient, he reminded the soldiers, and
that the war must continue, even though the mission
will change its focus, it has got some way to go --
Alina.
CHO: Michael, I'm just curious, because it has been
so widely reported that the Obama administration, of
course, keeping in mind that they'll listen to field
commanders, want to safely withdraw the troops from
Iraq by 2011. How has that affected morale on the
ground there?
WARE: Well, these troops are professionals, and
they're going to fight the fight that they have.
They're going to continue their patrols, they're
going to continue supporting the Iraqi security
forces. I mean, I have to be honest, no one's
thrilled to be here, not among the 140,000 troops. As
Secretary Gates said, it's been a long, hard fight. A
lot of these guys and girls are coming back now for
their second and third, some of them fourth and fifth
tours of Iraq. So somehow, morale remains stoic and
they're going to get the job done, but they all want
to go home. The question is when?
President-elect Obama is looking for 16 months. The
deal that Washington's now stuck to signed by the
Bush administration says 36 months. Now, where we're
going to meet in the middle or not is going to depend
on the new administration and what the commanders
like General Ray Odierno are telling the new White
House -- Alina.
CHO: I know you'll be watching it all for us. Michael
Ware, our man on the ground in Baghdad, Michael,
thank you.
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ALINA CHO:
Welcome back. Defense Secretary Robert Gates paying a
visit to Iraq today, assuring troops that their
mission remains important during the transition of
power in Washington. CNN's Michael Ware has more from
Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: U.S. Secretary of
Defense Robert Gates touched down in Iraq Saturday
afternoon local time for discussions with his top
commanders in the field here in the war. The
secretary said that whilst U.S. troop numbers will
start to go down in Iraq, he was nonetheless
heartened by President-elect Obama's comments
recently that the president-elect will be listening
to the commanders as to the precise timing of that
drawdown.
The secretary referred to the crucial phase of the
war that America was now in in Iraq as he spoke about
why he chosen to stay on with the new Obama
administration.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT GATES, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: There are a lot
of reasons to accept President-elect Obama's request
to stay on as Secretary of Defense. Among others, the
crucial next phase we're entering here in Iraq, the
plus-up of forces in Afghanistan, the tough choices
in a tough economy that the Pentagon is going to need
to make regarding the budget and priorities, and a
wounded warrior care system that still needs more
work, but I will tell you that no reason was more
compelling to me than the fact that hundreds of
thousands of young Americans are doing their duty.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WARE: But that duty was to continue, Secretary Gates
told the troops around him, as America's enemies in
Iraq remain resilient and there was much yet to be
done.
Michael Ware, Baghdad.