Defense Secretary Robert Gates Offers Hope Of U.S. Troop Withdrawals From Iraq

About Photo: Pentagon Press Conference - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates conducts a press conference with Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at the Pentagon, Friday, December 21, 2007.
DoD photo by Cherie A. Thurlby
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Defense Secretary Robert Gates held out hope Friday that U.S. forces in Iraq could continue a steady decline next year if security keeps improving — leaving 100,000 by year end. But he did not rule out a small uptick in U.S. troops in Afghanistan...
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