Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Yahoo! News Photos

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, seen in July 2008, addresses ...

(AFP/File) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:31:40 GMT

(AFP/File) - US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, seen in July 2008, addresses the US Global Leadership Campaign annual dinner in his honor in Washington. Al-Qaeda militants operating in tribal areas of Pakistan are less secure than in the past when they enjoyed the support of the government of neighboring Afghanistan, Gates said on Sunday.(AFP/File/Nicholas Kamm)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin leads a meeting in Moscow ...

(AFP/File) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:17:59 GMT

(AFP/File) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin leads a meeting in Moscow on August 14, 2008. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Sunday that Russia's invasion of Georgia suggested Prime Minister Vladmir Putin held the reins of power and not President Dmitry Medvedev.(AFP/File/Alexey Nikolsky)

US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, seen in July 2008, calls ...

(AFP/Getty Images/File) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:17:59 GMT

(AFP/Getty Images/File) - US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, seen in July 2008, calls on a reporter during a news briefing at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Sunday that Russia's invasion of Georgia suggested Prime Minister Vladmir Putin held the reins of power and not President Dmitry Medvedev.(AFP/Getty Images/File/Chip Somodevilla)

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates speaks during a press ...

(Reuters) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:20:49 GMT

(Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, July 9, 2008. (Molly Riley/Reuters)

Georgian refugees receive free clothes in a street in Tbilisi, ...

(AP) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:36:22 GMT

(AP) - Georgian refugees receive free clothes in a street in Tbilisi, Georgia, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008. Russia is showing signs of returning to its authoritarian past and its invasion of Georgia will require the U.S. to re-evaluate the strategic relationship between the superpowers, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday. (AP Photo/Georgy Abdaladze)

US Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, seen here on August ...

(AFP/Getty Images/File) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:14:02 GMT

(AFP/Getty Images/File) - US Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, seen here on August 14, has ruled out the use of US military force in Georgia. US President George W. Bush, fresh from declaring Russia's offensive in Georgia "completely unacceptable" will map out a response in talks with his top national security aides.(AFP/Getty Images/File/Mark Wilson)

Russian troops check an ID as they take position at the entrance ...

(AFP) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:43:04 GMT

(AFP) - Russian troops check an ID as they take position at the entrance of the flashpoint city of Gori. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday ruled out the use of US military force in Georgia but warned Russia it will damage relations with Washington for years to come if Moscow does not pull back its forces.(AFP/Dimitar Dilkoff)

US crew unload a US C-17 transport plane on the tarmac at Tbilisi ...

(AFP/File) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:43:04 GMT

(AFP/File) - US crew unload a US C-17 transport plane on the tarmac at Tbilisi airport on August 13, 2008. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday ruled out the use of US military force in Georgia but warned Russia it will damage relations with Washington for years to come if Moscow does not pull back its forces.(AFP/File/Vano Shlamov)

US Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates (L) and Vice Chairman ...

(AFP/Getty Images) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:43:04 GMT

(AFP/Getty Images) - US Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates (L) and Vice Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. James Cartwright speak to reporters during a briefing at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. Gates on Thursday ruled out the use of US military force in Georgia but warned Russia it will damage relations with Washington for years to come if Moscow does not pull back its forces.(AFP/Getty Images/Mark Wilson)

US Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates speaks during a briefing ...

(AFP/Getty Images) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:43:04 GMT

(AFP/Getty Images) - US Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates speaks during a briefing at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. Gates on Thursday ruled out the use of US military force in Georgia but warned Russia it will damage relations with Washington for years to come if Moscow does not pull back its forces.(AFP/Getty Images/Mark Wilson)

US President George W. Bush (C) speaks on the situation between ...

(AFP/File) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:53:33 GMT

(AFP/File) - US President George W. Bush (C) speaks on the situation between Georgia and Russia alongside Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (R) at the White House in Washington, DC, on August 13, 2008. Bush assured Ukraine and Lithuania of his ironclad commitment to stand with their fellow former Soviet republic Georgia in its military showdown with Russia.(AFP/File/Saul Loeb)

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and Joint Chiefs Vice ...

(AP) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:15:36 GMT

(AP) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman, Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, grin after a reporter's question during a news conference, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008, at the Pentagon. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and Joint Chiefs Vice ...

(AP) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:14:41 GMT

(AP) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman, Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, listen to a reporter's question during a news conference, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008, at the Pentagon. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

Defense Secretary Robert Gates speaks during a news conference, ...

(AP) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:13:43 GMT

(AP) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates speaks during a news conference, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008, at the Pentagon. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, accompanied by Joint Chiefs ...

(AP) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:13:03 GMT

(AP) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, accompanied by Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman, Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, respond to a question during a news conference, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008, at the Pentagon. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, accompanied by by Joint ...

(AP) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:09:57 GMT

(AP) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, accompanied by by Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman, Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, respond to a question during a news conference, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008, at the Pentagon. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, accompanied by Joints ...

(AP) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:05:36 GMT

(AP) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, accompanied by Joints Chiefs Vice Chairman, Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, responds to a question during a news conference, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008, at the Pentagon. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

US George W. Bush makes a statement about the conflict between ...

(AFP/File) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:12:06 GMT

(AFP/File) - US George W. Bush makes a statement about the conflict between Georgia and Russia with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) and Defense Secretary Robert Gates in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on August 13, 2008. Rice arrived in France for talks with President Nicolas Sarkozy, broker of a ceasefire accord on the Russia-Georgia conflict, as she heads to crisis talks in Tbilisi.(AFP/File/Nicholas Kamm)

US President George W. Bush makes a statement about the conflict ...

(AFP) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:39:18 GMT

(AFP) - US President George W. Bush makes a statement about the conflict between Georgia and Russia with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. Rice headed for Georgia after Bush made a strong statement of support for the former Soviet republic in its conflict with Russia.(AFP/Nicholas Kamm)

US President George W. Bush makes a statement about Georgia ...

(AFP) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:31:47 GMT

(AFP) - US President George W. Bush makes a statement about Georgia with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (left) and Defense Secretary Robert Gates in Washington. Bush said he was sending Rice to France and then to Georgia to discuss efforts to halt the conflict(AFP/Nicholas Kamm)

US President George W. Bush (C) arrives to make a statement ...

(AFP) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 05:22:51 GMT

(AFP) - US President George W. Bush (C) arrives to make a statement about the conflict between Georgia and Russia with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) and Defense Secretary Robert Gates in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. Bush on Wednesday ordered Condoleezza Rice to France and Georgia in support of French-led plans to end the war between the former Soviet republic and Russia.(AFP/Nicholas Kamm)

U.S. President George W. Bush (C) makes a statement on the situation ...

(Reuters) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:06:43 GMT

(Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush (C) makes a statement on the situation in Georgia with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, August 13, 2008. Bush, expressing his concern over Russia's military actions against neighboring Georgia, on Wednesday said he is sending Rice to Tbilisi to show U.S. support for the Georgian government. (Jim Young/Reuters)

U.S. President George W. Bush (C) makes a statement on the situation ...

(Reuters) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:06:43 GMT

US George W. Bush makes a statement about the conflict between ...

(AFP) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:02:59 GMT

(AFP) - US George W. Bush makes a statement about the conflict between Georgia and Russia with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates (both unseen) in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. The US military began a humanitarian airlift to war-torn Georgia and will review the needs of the country's military in the wake of a conflict with Russia, the Pentagon said.(AFP/Nicholas Kamm)

U.S. President George W. Bush (L) walks with Secretary of State ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:41:07 GMT

(Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush (L) walks with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (R) to make a statement on the situation in Georgia in the Rose Garden, at the White House in Washington, August 13, 2008. REUTERS/Jim Young (UNITED STATES)

U.S. President George W. Bush (L) walks with Secretary of State ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:38:27 GMT

(Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush (L) walks with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (not pictured) to make a statement on the situation in Georgia in the Rose Garden, at the White House in Washington, August 13, 2008. REUTERS/Jim Young (UNITED STATES)

U.S. President George W. Bush (L) walks with Secretary of State ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:33:15 GMT

(Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush (L) walks with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (R) to make a statement on the situation in Georgia, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, August 13, 2008. REUTERS/Jim Young (UNITED STATES)

U.S. President George W. Bush (C) makes a statement on the situation ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:30:37 GMT

U.S. President George W. Bush (C) makes a statement on the situation ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:27:49 GMT

US George W. Bush (C) arrives to make a statement about the ...

(AFP) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:27:12 GMT

(AFP) - US George W. Bush (C) arrives to make a statement about the conflict between Georgia and Russia with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) and Defense Secretary Robert Gates in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. Bush on Wednesday ordered Condoleezza Rice to France and Georgia in support of French-led plans to end the war between the former Soviet republic and Russia.(AFP/Nicholas Kamm)

U.S. President George W. Bush (L) walks with Secretary of State ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:20:55 GMT

(Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush (L) walks with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (C) and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to make a statement on the situation in Georgia in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, August 13, 2008. REUTERS/Jim Young (UNITED STATES)

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) and Secretary of Defense ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:19:32 GMT

(Reuters) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates walk through the Colonnade to take part in a statement on the situation in Georgia in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, August 13, 2008. U.S. President George W. Bush, expressing his concern over Russia's military actions against neighboring Georgia, on Wednesday said he is sending Rice to Tbilisi to show U.S. support for the Georgian government. REUTERS/Jim Young (UNITED STATES)

President Bush, followed by Defense Secretary Robert Gates and ...

(AP) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:17:55 GMT

(AP) - President Bush, followed by Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, walks from the Oval Office to the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008, to make a statement on the conflict between Georgia and Russia. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)