Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Yahoo! News Photos

An Iranian military helicopter flys over a nuclear power plant ...

(AFP/File) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:42:49 GMT

(AFP/File) - An Iranian military helicopter flys over a nuclear power plant in Natanz, 270 kms south of Tehran. Defence Secretary Robert Gates is hoping for a new UN resolution on sanctions against Iran in "a matter of weeks", as world powers raise the heat on Tehran over its nuclear programme, a US defence spokesman has said.(AFP/File/Henghameh Fahimi)

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and US Defence Secretary Robert ...

(AFP/File) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:47:26 GMT

(AFP/File) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy and US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, seen here on February 5, agreed in talks Monday that "strong" new sanctions must be passed against Iran over its nuclear drive, the French presidency said.(AFP/File/Mustafa Ozer)

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates arrives at the Elysee Palace ...

(Reuters) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:52:39 GMT

(Reuters) - US Defence Secretary Robert Gates arrives at the Elysee Palace to meet with France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, in Paris February 8, 2010. The United States denied on Monday it was disappointed by France's decision to send only 80 more trainers to Afghanistan and held out hope President Nicolas Sarkozy would be able to do more later. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer (FRANCE - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY)

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates arrives at the Elysee Palace ...

(Reuters) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:51:37 GMT

French Defense Minister Herve Morin, right, gestures as he speaks ...

(AP) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:04:22 GMT

(AP) - French Defense Minister Herve Morin, right, gestures as he speaks to the media during his joint press conference with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, at the French Defense Ministry, in Paris, Monday, Feb. 8, 2010.(AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Italian Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa (L) and US Secretary ...

(AFP) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:56:00 GMT

(AFP) - Italian Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa (L) and US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates attend a ceremony at the Unknown Soldier's monument at Piazza Venezia in central Rome. The international community must unite to pressure Iran as it seeks to boost its nuclear programme, Gates said Sunday.(AFP/Andreas Solaro)

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates arrives to testify at ...

(Reuters) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:47:33 GMT

(Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates arrives to testify at the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, February 2, 2010. REUTERS/Jim Young

U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates (2nd R) pays his respects ...

(Reuters) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 10:39:56 GMT

(Reuters) - U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates (2nd R) pays his respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during his visit in Rome February 7, 2010. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi (ITALY - Tags: POLITICS)

U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates arrives with Italy's ...

(Reuters) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 10:39:53 GMT

(Reuters) - U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates arrives with Italy's Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa (R) at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during his visit in Rome February 7, 2010. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi (ITALY - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY)

U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates (L) pays his respects at ...

(Reuters) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 10:38:51 GMT

(Reuters) - U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates (L) pays his respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as Italy's Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa (R) looks on during his visit in Rome February 7, 2010. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi (ITALY - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY)

Iranian technicians remove a container of radioactive uranium ...

(AFP/File) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:15:48 GMT

(AFP/File) - Iranian technicians remove a container of radioactive uranium from the Isfahan nuclear facility in 2005. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressed doubts Saturday that a deal was close on Iran's disputed nuclear programme, as the UN atomic chief said Tehran presented no new proposals at talks in Germany.(AFP/File/Behrouz Mehri)

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki addresses a press ...

(AFP) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:15:48 GMT

(AFP) - Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki addresses a press conference at the 46th Munich Security Conference at the Bayerischer Hof hotel in Munich. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressed doubts Saturday that a deal was close on Iran's disputed nuclear programme, as the UN atomic chief said Tehran presented no new proposals at talks in Germany.(AFP/John Macdougall)

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (R) poses with US Secretary ...

(AFP) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:15:48 GMT

(AFP) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (R) poses with US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates in Rome's Palazzo Chigi. Gates expressed doubts Saturday that a deal was close on Iran's disputed nuclear programme, as the UN atomic chief said Tehran presented no new proposals at talks in Germany.(AFP/Filippo Monteforte)

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates (R) and his Turkish counterpart ...

(AFP) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:22:26 GMT

(AFP) - US Defence Secretary Robert Gates (R) and his Turkish counterpart Vecdi Gonul shake hands before their meeting in Ankara. The United States may offer Turkey more help with equipment and intelligence to combat separatist Kurdish rebels taking refuge in the Iraqi north, Gates said Saturday.(AFP/Adem Altan)

US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates has expressed doubts that ...

(AFP) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:04:28 GMT

(AFP) - US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates has expressed doubts that a deal with Iran on sending some of its uranium abroad for enrichment was close.(AFP/Mustafa Ozer)

Italy's Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa (R) shakes hand ...

(Reuters) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:58:08 GMT

(Reuters) - Italy's Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa (R) shakes hand with U.S. Ambassator to Italy David H. Thorne (C) as they greet the Defence Secretary Robert Gates (L) during a visit at the Chigi palace in Rome February 6, 2010. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi (ITALY - Tags: POLITICS)

Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (R) shakes hands ...

(Reuters) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:29:12 GMT

(Reuters) - Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (R) shakes hands with U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates during a visit at the Chigi palace in Rome February 6, 2010. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi (ITALY - Tags: POLITICS)

Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi(R) shakes hands ...

(Reuters) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:28:07 GMT

(Reuters) - Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi(R) shakes hands with U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates during a visit at the Chigi palace in Rome February 6, 2010. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi (ITALY - Tags: POLITICS)

Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (R) shakes hands ...

(Reuters) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:24:51 GMT

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, right, shakes hands with ...

(AP) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:13:10 GMT

(AP) - Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, right, shakes hands with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, during a meeting in Rome's Chigi Palace, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, right, shakes hands with ...

(AP) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:12:58 GMT

(AP) - Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, right, shakes hands with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, during a meeting in Rome's Chigi Palace, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki attends the media ...

(AP) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:46:51 GMT

(AP) - Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki attends the media during the annual Munich Security conference in Munich, southern Germany, on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010 . Iran's claims to be close to an agreement on its nuclear program have yet to be backed up by any concrete actions, top Western officials said Saturday, and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said it may be time to take a 'different tack' with Tehran. U.S. and European officials at a gathering of the world's top defense officials in Munich rejected statements from Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki late Friday that Tehran was 'approaching a final agreement.' (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki attends the media ...

(AP) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:46:41 GMT

In this Feb. 5, 2010 photo released by the Department of Defense, ...

(AP) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 13:43:57 GMT

(AP) - In this Feb. 5, 2010 photo released by the Department of Defense, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, right, meets with Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul at the Ministry of Defense in Ankara, Turkey. Gates on Saturday dismissed assertions by the Iranian government that it was nearing a deal with the international community on its nuclear program and said a 'different tack' may be needed. (AP Photo/Dept. of Defense, Cherie Cullen)

US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates, seen here, expressed doubt ...

(AFP) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:35:00 GMT

(AFP) - US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates, seen here, expressed doubt Saturday that a deal with Iran on sending some of its uranium abroad for enrichment was close.(AFP/Mustafa Ozer)

Graphic on the process of enriching uranium to convert it into ...

(AFP/Graphic) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:35:00 GMT

(AFP/Graphic) - Graphic on the process of enriching uranium to convert it into nuclear fuel. US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates expressed doubt that a deal with Iran on sending some of its uranium abroad for enrichment was close.(AFP/Graphic)

Turkish guards of honor stand with U.S. and Turkish flags before ...

(AP) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 10:31:00 GMT

(AP) - Turkish guards of honor stand with U.S. and Turkish flags before the arrival of U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul for a ceremony in Ankara, Turkey, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates poses for photographers ...

(AP) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 10:29:15 GMT

(AP) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates poses for photographers before talks with Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, unseen, in Ankara, Turkey, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. Gates attended two-day informal NATO defense ministers meeting on Afghanistan in Istanbul before arriving in Ankara. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and Turkish Defense ...

(AP) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 10:28:43 GMT

(AP) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, right, pose for photographers prior to their meeting in Ankara, Turkey, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. Gates attended two-day informal NATO defense ministers meeting on Afghanistan in Istanbul before arriving in Ankara. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

Turkey's Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul (L) shakes hands with ...

(Reuters) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 10:09:38 GMT

(Reuters) - Turkey's Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul (L) shakes hands with U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates in Ankara February 6, 2010. REUTERS/Stringer (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS)

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, second from left, and Turkish ...

(AP) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 09:10:48 GMT

(AP) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, second from left, and Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, left, inspect a military guard of honor before their talks in Ankara, Turkey, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, right, and Turkish Defense ...

(AP) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 09:10:29 GMT

(AP) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, right, and Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, left, pose for photographers as they inspect a military guard of honor before their talks in Ankara, Turkey, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

U. S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and Turkish Prime ...

(AP) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:22:05 GMT

(AP) - U. S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan seen during their meeting in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. Gates attended two-day informal NATO defense ministers meeting on Afghanistan in Istanbul.(AP Photo/Adem Altan, Pool)

U. S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and Turkish Prime ...

(AP) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:20:47 GMT

(AP) - U. S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan seen during their meeting in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. Gates attended a two-day informal NATO defense ministers meeting on Afghanistan in Istanbul.(AP Photo/Adem Altan, Pool)

Afghanistan's Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak (R) chats ...

(Reuters) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:40:14 GMT

(Reuters) - Afghanistan's Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak (R) chats with U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates (L) and British Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth (C) during the Informal Meeting of NATO Defence Ministers non-NATO ISAF Contributing Nations in Istanbul February 5, 2010. REUTERS/NATO Photos/Handout (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates (L) meets with Turkey's ...

(Reuters) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:32:29 GMT

(Reuters) - U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates (L) meets with Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara February 5, 2010. REUTERS/Adem Altan/Pool (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS)

U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates speaks during a news conference ...

(Reuters) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:57:31 GMT

(Reuters) - U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates speaks during a news conference at the end of the informal meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Istanbul February 5, 2010. REUTERS/Murad Sezer (TURKEY - Tags: MILITARY POLITICS IMAGES OF THE DAY)

U. S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates speaks during a news conference ...

(AP) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:44:38 GMT

(AP) - U. S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates speaks during a news conference after an informal NATO defense ministers meeting on Afghanistan, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. The situation in Afghanistan is improving after 'a difficult year' in 2009, NATO's chief official said on Friday, echoing a rare optimistic assessment by the alliance's top war commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

U. S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates speaks during a news conference ...

(AP) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:23:34 GMT

U. S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates speaks during a news conference ...

(AP) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:23:19 GMT

U.S.Defense Secretary Robert Gates speaks during a news conference ...

(AP) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:51:55 GMT

(AP) - U.S.Defense Secretary Robert Gates speaks during a news conference after an informal NATO defense ministers meeting on Afghanistan, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. The situation in Afghanistan is improving after 'a difficult year' in 2009, NATO's chief official said on Friday, echoing a rare optimistic assessment by the alliance's top war commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates speaks during a news conference ...

(Reuters) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:23:14 GMT

U. S, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and his counterparts ...

(AP) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:55:00 GMT

(AP) - U. S, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and his counterparts Robert Ainsworth of Britain, center, and Abdul Rahim Vardak of Afghanistan, chat during an informal NATO defense ministers meeting on Afghanistan, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. The situation in Afghanistan is improving after 'a difficult year' in 2009, NATO's chief official said on Friday, echoing a rare optimistic assessment by the alliance's top war commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

U. S, Defense Secretary Robert Gates reads documents during ...

(AP) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:52:03 GMT

(AP) - U. S, Defense Secretary Robert Gates reads documents during an informal NATO defense ministers meeting on Afghanistan, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. The situation in Afghanistan is improving after 'a difficult year' in 2009, NATO's chief official said on Friday, echoing a rare optimistic assessment by the alliance's top war commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, left, NATO Secretary-General ...

(AP) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:48:19 GMT

(AP) - Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, left, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, second from left, U. S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, center, Britain's Defense Secretary Bob Ainsworth, second from right, and Spain's Defense Minister Carme Chacon, right, pose for a group photo, following an informal NATO defense ministers meeting on Afghanistan, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. The situation in Afghanistan is improving after 'a difficult year' in 2009, NATO's chief official said on Friday, echoing a rare optimistic assessment by the alliance's top war commander. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (L) and U.S. Defence ...

(Reuters) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:38:18 GMT

(Reuters) - NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (L) and U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates (R) pose with defence ministers (back L to R) Herve Morin of France, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg of Germany and Evangelos Venizelos of Greece for a group photo during the informal meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Istanbul February 5, 2010. REUTERS/Murad Sezer (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY)

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, third from left ...

(AP) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:35:54 GMT

(AP) - NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, third from left in front row, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, third from right in front row, and other NATO defense ministers are seen during a group photo, following an informal NATO defense ministers meeting on Afghanistan, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. The situation in Afghanistan is improving after 'a difficult year' in 2009, NATO's chief official said on Friday, echoing a rare optimistic assessment by the alliance's top war commander. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen poses with Turkey's ...

(Reuters) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:28:35 GMT

(Reuters) - NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen poses with Turkey's Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul (L) and U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates (R) for a group photo during the informal meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Istanbul February 5, 2010. REUTERS/Murad Sezer (TURKEY - Tags: MILITARY POLITICS)

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, left, and U.S. ...

(AP) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:25:45 GMT

(AP) - NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, left, and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates chat during an informal NATO defense ministers meeting on Afghanistan, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. The situation in Afghanistan is improving after 'a difficult year' in 2009, NATO's chief official said on Friday, echoing a rare optimistic assessment by the alliance's top war commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, left, and U. S. ...

(AP) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:24:54 GMT

(AP) - NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, left, and U. S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, right, attend an informal NATO defense ministers meeting on Afghanistan, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. The situation in Afghanistan is improving after 'a difficult year' in 2009, NATO's chief official said on Friday, echoing a rare optimistic assessment by the alliance's top war commander. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)