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New US defence secretary sworn in US defence chief warns over Iraq
(about 6 hours later)
Robert Gates has been sworn in as US defence secretary in a private event at the White House in Washington. New US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has warned that failure in Iraq would be a "calamity" that would haunt the United States for many years.
A public swearing-in ceremony at the Pentagon, to be attended by President George W Bush, will be held later. Mr Gates was speaking after taking his oath of office from Vice President Dick Cheney at a ceremony at the Pentagon.
Mr Gates, 63, replaces Donald Rumsfeld, the chief architect of the war in Iraq who resigned last month amid heavy criticism of his policy. Mr Gates, who replaces Donald Rumsfeld, said Iraq was his top priority.
Mr Gates takes office amid a wide-ranging administration review of its approach to the war. He added that he intended to travel to Iraq soon to hear the "unvarnished" views of US commanders on how to improve the situation.
Mr Bush said last week he would wait until January to announce his new strategy, to give his new defence chief a chance to offer advice. "All of us want to find a way to bring America's sons and daughters home again," Mr Gates said.
'Deteriorating situation' "But as the president has made clear, we simply cannot afford to fail in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, former Secretary of State Colin Powell has said overstretched US troops are losing the conflict in Iraq. "Failure in Iraq at this juncture would be a calamity that would haunt our nation, impair our credibility, and endanger Americans for decades to come."
Mr Powell told CBS News that bolstering troop numbers would be unlikely to reverse the "grave and deteriorating situation" in the country. Mr Rumsfeld, the chief architect of the war in Iraq, resigned last month amid heavy criticism of his policy.
Strategy review
Mr Gates, 63, takes office amid a wide-ranging administration review of its approach to the war.
Mr Gates has said the US is not winning the war in IraqPresident George W Bush said last week he would wait until January to announce his new strategy, to give his new defence chief a chance to offer advice.
Speaking after the swearing-in, Mr Bush said Mr Gates was "the right man" for the challenges of Iraq and the wider fight against terrorism.
At a confirmation hearing in the Senate earlier this month, Mr Gates said the US was not winning the war in Iraq, and that he was open to new policy ideas.At a confirmation hearing in the Senate earlier this month, Mr Gates said the US was not winning the war in Iraq, and that he was open to new policy ideas.
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell has gone further, saying that overstretched US troops are losing the conflict.
Mr Gates served as CIA director from 1991 until 1993, during the administration of Mr Bush's father.Mr Gates served as CIA director from 1991 until 1993, during the administration of Mr Bush's father.
Mr Bush accepted Mr Rumsfeld's resignation after November mid-elections in which the Republicans lost control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.Mr Bush accepted Mr Rumsfeld's resignation after November mid-elections in which the Republicans lost control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Public discontent over the conduct of the Iraq war was seen as a major factor in the defeat.Public discontent over the conduct of the Iraq war was seen as a major factor in the defeat.