IISS 2008 Regional Security Summit Press Coverage
- 14 Dec 2008 - - Gulf Daily News - Attiyah hopes for new US focus on Middle East
The new US administration will adopt a clear approach towards issues in the Middle East, especially the Palestinian crisis, GCC secretary-general Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah hoped yesterday. This year's Manama Dialogue is different from previous editions because of the new US administration and the ideas circulated by some of its officials, including Defence Secretary Robert Gates, on Iraq and current issues, Mr Al Attiyah said.
- 14 Dec 2008 - - Arab Times - US asks ME to help fight terror
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged Middle East nations Saturday to help fight the spread of violent extremism by funding and training Afghan security forces and reaching out more aggressively to the fledgling government in Iraq. Gates also assured a gathering of Arabian Gulf leaders here that President-elect Barack Obama will continue the US commitment to the Middle East, including efforts to fight terrorism and develop a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
- 14 Dec 2008 - - Wall St Journal - Some U.S. Troops May Stay in Iraqi Cities Beyond Deadline
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who made an unannounced trip to Iraq, told a security conference in Bahrain Saturday morning that the U.S. hoped to deploy three additional combat brigades, or roughly 15,000 troops, to Afghanistan by next summer. The planned deployments would push the U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan to roughly 49,000, the highest level since the start of the war in 2001.
- 14 Dec 2008 - - Gulf News - Use of force strong option if diplomacy fails, says Bahrain
"We are firmly committed to engaging in diplomacy, and honing it to fit our time. However, if it does not bear fruit and fails, or is exploited for one side's selfish gains, we should not hesitate one minute to become fighters and real combatants in order to safeguard this vital region," Shaikh Khalid said at the opening of the multinational Manama Dialogue security conference on Friday evening.
- 14 Dec 2008 - - New York Times - Top U.S. Commander Says Some Troops Will Stay Longer in Iraqi Cities as Support
Mr. Gates came to Baghdad from Manama, Bahrain, where he warned that foreign powers should not try to ''test'' President-elect Barack Obama with a crisis in his first months in office. He said the new administration would be committed to security in the Gulf and criticized Iran as trying to destabilize the region.
''The president-elect and his team are under no illusions about Iran's behavior and what Iran has been doing in the region and apparently is doing with weapons programs,'' he said.
- 14 Dec 2008 - - Washington Post - Troops Will Remain In Iraqi Cities After June, Odierno Says
Before arriving in Iraq, Gates spoke at a conference in Bahrain with leaders from the Persian Gulf area. He urged them to become more involved in training Afghan security forces and more engaged with Iraq's gov-ernment.