IISS 2007 Regional Security Summit Press Coverage
- When the US Military Crosses Paths With Iran
Mr. Gates may have a chance for a similar unexpected close encounter with the Iranians this weekend, as he is scheduled to give a keynote address to an annual regional security conference here. The defense secretary said Thursday that he has no expectations for interactions with any Iranian defense ministry or military officials attending the meeting.
- Gates says unclear if Iran has cut support
Gates visited Bahrain, home to US Navy's Fifth Fleet, to join more than 200 ministers, security officials and anti-terrorism experts from around 50 countries for a four-day forum on conference on regional security.
- Top US general says no 'victory dances' yet
On Thursday, Gates travelled to Bahrain where more than 200 ministers, security officials and anti-terrorism experts from around 50 countries have gathered for a four-day conference on regional security. Before wrapping up his Iraq visit, Gates met Petraeus in Baghdad. "It was a closed meeting between the two to discuss items of interest to the secretary of defence and General Petraeus," US military spokesman Lieutenant Justin Cole said in a statement, without offering details.
- No 'victory dances' yet in Iraq
Petraeus was due to meet later Thursday with Gates, who on the first day of his visit met top Iraqi leaders, including Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. The defence secretary was to leave for Bahrain later in the day to attend a weekend conference on regional security.
- Gates Leaves Iraq Encouraged
“I came away from all of it feeling very good about the direction of things in the security arena, about what is going on at the local and provincial level in terms of people reaching out to each other, crossing tribal, sectarian and provincial boundaries to work together,” Mr. Gates said after arriving in Bahrain, where he will attend an annual conference on regional security issues.
- Gates Says Iraqi Leaders Feel Pressure
Gates will be attending a regional security conference here in Manama, and he said he expects that "Iranian behavior in a number of areas will clearly come up during the conversations." Petraeus also noted that the military has detained individuals as recently as October who were trained by Iranians, evidence that the instruction has continued.