Gates Confirmed By Senate as Defense Secretary

(CNSNews.com) - In a vote of 95 to 2, former CIA chief Robert Gates was confirmed Wednesday by the Senate as the next secretary of defense, on the same day that the Iraq Study Group formally released its recommendations on how to proceed in Iraq. The two votes against Gates were Republican Sens. Jim Bunning of Kentucky and Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, Fox News reports. The Senate Armed Services Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to recommend Gates' confirmation. He won Democrats over with his declaration that the U.S. was not winning the war in Iraq, contrary to President Bush's claims that the U.S. is "absolutely" winning. Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) said Gates "recognized the high price" U.S. troops "are paying for the current policy." Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said Gates and Democrats agree that "only a political settlement by the Iraqis can end the violence in Iraq, and that the military force that we have there cannot do that for the Iraqis." Gates also solidified support from Democrats by promising to consider alternative options in Iraq.