Questions posed to Robert M. Gates, before his confirmation as Secretary of Defense:
17. Strategy in Iraq Question: Do you agree that there is no purely military solution to the Iraq situation?Yes, there is no purely military solution in Iraq. The U.S. strategy in Iraq depends on political and economic efforts, as much as military, though the military component remains critical to success there.
According to the President, the military aspect of the U.S. strategy continues to be to help develop self-reliance among Iraqi security forces, neutralizing the insurgency, and defeating the terrorists. While significant work remains to be done in a difficult environment, the Iraqi security forces have made great strides.
Security progress in many ways is contingent on political and economic progress, which will continue to require the full commitment of the other departments of the U.S. government, Iraq?s regional neighbors, and the international community.
[end of quoted material] Robert Paul Reed College ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html
