Gates sworn in as U.S. Defense Secretary

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 12-19-2006 11:14

The US new Secretary of Defense says the country must not fail in Iraq. Former CIA Director Robert Gates was officially sworn-in at a ceremony at the Pentagon on Monday. He said he would visit Iraq soon to hear what US commanders had to say to improve the situation there.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (2nd L) attends his swearing-in ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington, Dec. 18, 2006. From L-R are: President Bush, Gates, his wife, Becky Gates, and Vice President Dick Cheney .(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

President George W. Bush attended the swearing-in ceremony. He described the job of defense secretary as tough, but said he had complete confidence in Gates. 63-year-old Gates replaces embattled Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld, who was under fire for his handling of the Iraq war.

Gates served as CIA director from 1991 until 1993 during Bush Senior's presidential tenure. He was a member of the Iraq Study Group, which recommended phasing out most US combat troops by 2008. He left the commission when Bush announced his nomination.

Editor:Du Xiaodan