Senator Collins' Statement on Robert Gates' Nomination to Secretary of Defense

SENATOR COLLINS' STATEMENT ON ROBERT GATES' NOMINATION TO SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) today released the
following statement following the President's announcement that he is
nominating Robert Gates to be the Secretary of the Department of Defense.
Senator Collins is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Senator Collins' statement:

"Robert Gates called me this afternoon to discuss his nomination to be
Secretary of Defense. I have great respect for his experience, ability, and
intellect. I told Mr. Gates how much I had appreciated his assistance when I
was developing the Intelligence Reform Act in 2004 and that I look forward to
working closely with him. We talked about the need to fashion a bipartisan
approach to national security issues and work across party lines. I said that
I thought he would find Members on both sides of the aisle who would be eager
to work constructively on a new strategy for Iraq and Afghanistan.

"This change in leadership at the Pentagon is the right opportunity for
the Administration to develop a new strategy. The current approach has not
led to a reduction in the insurgent violence that our troops and the Iraqi
people face every day."

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