Servicemembers quizzed Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates about Afghanistan, the elections in Iraq and the Iran situation during a question-and-answer period here today.

Gates spoke to members of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. The wing has been deployed here since January 2002 in response to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The unit has a refueling mission, a reconnaissance mission and also provides air command and control for the U.S. Central Command area of operations, according to AFPS’ Jim Garamone.

Not surprisingly, the airmen and soldiers at the base wanted to know how operations in the theater are going.

Gates told the group that the extraordinary turnout in the Iraqi election held March 7, is a good sign for the future. Before the election, the U.S. commander in Iraq, Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, told Gates that a turnout of 50 to 55 percent would be good, and a turnout of 55 to 60 percent would be outstanding. “We apparently ended up with 62 percent turnout,” the secretary said. “When you think of where we were three years ago, … the progress there has been extraordinary.”

If the Iraqis can form a government quickly, the secretary said, he sees no reason why the United States could not meet the marks set for the U.S. withdrawal from the country. That would mean all combat units will be out of Iraq by the end of August, and all American forces will be gone by the end of 2011.

The subject shifted to Iran, whose nuclear program disturbs all countries in the region. By coincidence, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinijad visited neighboring Afghanistan at the same time that Gates was in the country. The Iranian leader met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai the day after Gates met with him.

Some Iranian-made weapons and supplies have ended up in the hands of the Taliban, but that is not yet having a negative impact on the U.S. and international efforts in Afghanistan, Gates said.

The secretary joked that he and Ahmedinijad “exchanged a few words through the media yesterday.”

“I talked about Iran playing a double game with Afghanistan – wanting to have a good relationship with the Afghan government, but wanting to make our lives harder and our lives more difficult,” the secretary said.

But so far, he added, the Iranian level of effort in Afghanistan is not a major problem. “The level of their support to the Taliban has, so far as we can tell, been pretty limited,” Gates said. “I was just trying to express the hope that it wouldn’t get any worse than that.”

The conflict there will take time, the secretary said, though commanders in the country told him during his visit earlier this week that the Taliban momentum has been blunted.

“What I’ve tried to point out to folks is that of the 30,000 troops that the president ordered for the surge in Afghanistan, only about 6,000 are in country so far,” he said.

The rest of the troops will be deployed by the end of August, and that will allow the new strategy in the country to be fully implemented. “The civilian capacity that is equally important to our success there is just arriving and getting in to place as well,” the secretary said.

A key element of the new strategy involves obtaining more trainers for the Afghan security forces. U.S., NATO and international partners are working on getting the training teams in place that Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, says he needs, Gates said.

“My view is all the pieces needed to be successful in Afghanistan – including increasing the size of the Afghan national army and police – are just beginning to come together,” he said. “My view is that the signs we have seen so far indicate to me that General McChrystal’s strategy is working, but it’s still a hard fight ahead of us.”

Gates thanked the members of the unit for their efforts. He said they are helping to make a difference in Afghanistan in particular. “You’ve flown thousands of sorties providing support for those in action,” he said. “And I can tell you, I spent a good part of [March 9] in Helmand and Kandahar provinces, and those men and women on the ground know how much they owe you all for the support you’ve given them. You save lives every day.”

Gates asked the servicemembers to thank their families for him.

“You couldn’t do what you do without their support back home and I want you to pass along from me personally that we recognize how much they sacrifice and how important their support for you is,” he said.

The secretary then shook the hand of every member of the audience and handed his commemorative coin to them.

Iraq and Iran were among the key issues on the table when Defense Secretary Robert Gates met with top officials in Saudi Arabia.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Abu Dhabi on Thursday for talks with political and military leaders.

Women Airforce Service Pilots were awarded Congressional Gold Medals Wednesday for their service during WWII. WASPs were the first women to fly U.S. military aircraft.

Lawmakers are questioning the cost and the delays in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates toured an Afghan Army training camp during his recent visit to Afghanistan.

The commander of U.S. Division Center briefs reporters from Baghdad.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will discuss Iran, Afghanistan and military-to-military contacts with Saudi officials here today, according to AFPS’ Jim Garamone.

Gates, who arrived here after a three-day visit to Afghanistan, is scheduled to meet with King Abdallah and Crown Prince Sultan.

The Saudis are worried about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the affect that Iran’s Shiia government can have on the significant Shiia minorities in some of the Gulf states, senior defense officials speaking on background said.

Many of the Gulf states are building up air-defense capabilities in response to Iranian uranium research and continued Iranian missile development. And the threat Iran poses also is causing many of the Gulf States – who don’t necessarily get along – to look for ways to cooperate.
“Secretary Gates has said many times that continued Iranian nuclear development doesn’t make them safe,” Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said. The fact that many states in the region are examining ways to share intelligence and radar information and considering other potential forms of cooperation, he added, shows that Gates’ contention is correct.

The United States and Saudi Arabia have had excellent military-to-military relations since World War II. U.S. advisors continue to help in training the Saudi military and National Guard.

Saudi Arabia is one of the largest customers for U.S. defense goods, and officials said they expect that all of these matters and more will be on the table during the meetings.

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced today that the President has made the following nomination:

• Army Lt. Gen. David M. Rodriguez has been nominated for re-appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and assignment as commander, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command/deputy commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan. Rodriguez is currently serving as the commander, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command.

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced today that the President has made the following nomination:

• Navy Vice Adm. Paul S. Stanley has been nominated for reappointment to the rank of vice admiral and assignment as principal deputy director of cost assessment and program evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C. Stanley is currently serving as director, force structure, resources and assessment, J-8, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has called on every member of the Defense Department to play a personal role in creating a secure environment that will help to prevent more tragedies like the Nov. 5 shooting rampage that left 13 people dead at Fort Hood, Texas, reports AFPS’ Donna Miles.

Gates issued a memo yesterday after reflecting on results of the independent review he directed after the incident to ensure the safety and health of servicemembers, civilian defense employees, and their families.

“I ask all commanders, supervisors, noncommissioned leaders and other personnel in the department to reinforce the fabric of trust with one another,” Gates wrote. “From simple everyday expressions of concern, to supervising, mentoring and counseling, we, and every servicemember, need to be more attuned to one another’s mental, emotional and spiritual balance and be willing to take responsible action.”

Gates urged department members to look beyond their day-to-day tasks and challenges and take action if their colleagues appear to be at risk.

He also called for leaders to be honest in their assessments of their subordinates – particularly when they identify red flags – and to document what they identify.

“Leadership at every level depends on the integrity to assess the performance of our people honestly and openly,” Gates wrote. “We can only deal with internal threats if we can rely on the quality of the information in our official records. There are serious effects of failure to reflect fully, accurately and completely on all aspects of professional ethical and personal career development in performance appraisals.”

Gates called on leaders to instill and preserve “the core traits that sustain our profession and keep our forces strong, effective and safe.”

“With responsibility comes accountability,” he wrote. “My expectation is that our leaders will set the standards for leadership, management and mentoring, and will be accountable for the health and performance of the force.”

Gates concluded his memo recognizing how much the country has asked of its servicemembers and Defense Department civilians over the past two decades, and how they have repeatedly risen to the occasion.

“Each of you has an important role in adapting to the changing security environment,” he wrote. “Together, we will make the force and our nation safer, stronger and more secure to face the challenges of today and tomorrow.”

Gates issued the memo based on findings of the Department of Defense Independent Review Related to Fort Hood. He directed the review and appointed former Army Secretary Togo D. West Jr. and retired Navy Adm. Vernon E. Clark, a former chief of naval operations, to lead it. The panel provided its report to Gates on Jan. 15.

Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, is charged with killing 13 people, 12 military and one civilian, and wounding 43 others during a Nov. 5 shooting rampage at Fort Hood. He has been charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 specifications of attempted premeditated murder under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The UCMJ is the U.S. military’s legal system for servicemembers.

Hasan, a Muslim, allegedly became radicalized and complained to colleagues about his role as a U.S. military officer when he was posted at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here before being assigned to Fort Hood in July.