Gates is on his way to Singapore to attend the Shangri-La dialogue annual meeting of defense ministers. Gates also is scheduled to visit Afghanistan on June 3.
He was accompanied by Adm. Timothy Keating, who heads all U.S. forces in the Pacific. Keating will be gone for five days.
Gates said “one of his central messages is that while we are fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the global war on terror, we have no intention neglecting Asia.
By Gregg Kakesako
Defense Secretary Robert Gates suggested today that a U.S. presence in Iraq may be required for “a protracted period of time” just like it has been in South Korea and in Japan.
Gates, who left Hawaii today on his first Pacific-Asian trip since taking office, told reporters that both Korea and Japan could serve as “a model” for what may occur in Iraq.
“What I am thinking in terms of is a mutual agreement where some force of Americans with mutually agreed missions is present for a protracted period of time.”
Gates says President Bush supports such a course in Iraq as long as the sovereignty of the host nation is protected and “there are rules what the U.S. can and cannot do.”
He said Korea has been mentioned in contrast to Vietnam “where we left lock, stock and barrel.”
“The idea is more a model of mutually agreed arrangement where we have an enduring presence but one that is by consent of both parties under certain conditions.”
Gates is on his way to Singapore to attend the Shangri-La dialogue annual meeting of defense ministers. Gates also is scheduled to visit Afghanistan on June 3.
He was accompanied by Adm. Timothy Keating, who heads all U.S. forces in the Pacific. Keating will be gone for five days.
Gates said “one of his central messages is that while we are fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the global war on terror, we have no intention neglecting Asia.
“In fact, our Asian partners play a critical role in the war on terror. Some of the Asian countries have been victims in the war on terror and are our strong allies in pursuing al-Quaida and other terrorists.”
