Photo Essays
Gates Heads to Iraq
Before leaving Kabul, Afghanistan, for Iraq, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates congratulates U.S Army Staff Sgt. Von Staufffenberg, who received the Bronze Star Award and two Purple Hearts for his devoted service to the U.S. Armed Forces fight against terrorism, Dec. 5, 2007. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates walks down the flightline in Kabul, Afghanistan, to his aircraft for a trip to Mosul, Iraq, Dec. 5, 2007. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates boards a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., located in Kabul, Afghanistan, en route to Mosul, Iraq, Dec. 5, 2007. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates walks with U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Mark Hertling, commanding general, 1st Armored Division, after arriving in Mosul, Iraq, Dec. 5, 2007. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates greets local leaders in Mosul, Iraq, during a trip to Iraq's third largest city, Dec. 5, 2007. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates meets with local leaders in Mosul, Iraq, during a trip to Iraq's third largest city, Dec. 5, 2007. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates talks Dec. 6, 2007, to U.S. Army captains who have almost completed their fifteen-month tour in Iraq. Gates is getting first-hand information from soldiers on the front lines of the war in Iraq.Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates meets with local leaders in Mosul, Iraq, Dec. 5, 2007. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and his staff receive an aerial tour of Baghdad during a recent trip to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in Iraq, Dec. 5, 2007. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates looks out the window on an aerial tour of Baghdad during a recent trip to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in Iraq, Dec. 5, 2007. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani hold a joint press meeting after the secretary's arrival in Baghdad, Iraq, Dec. 5, 2007. Defense Secretary Robert Gates walks with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani after the two met in Baghdad, Iraq, Dec. 5, 2007.Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Iraqi Minister of Defense Abd al Qadr hold a joint press conference at the Combined Press Information Center in Baghdad, Iraq, Dec. 5, 2007. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates speaks during a joint press conference with Irqai Minister of Defense Abd al Qadr at the Combined Press Information Center in Baghdad, Iraq, Dec. 5, 2007.
Before leaving Kabul, Afghanistan, for Iraq, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates congratulates U.S Army Staff Sgt. Von Staufffenberg, who received the Bronze Star Award and two Purple Hearts for his devoted service to the U.S. Armed Forces fight against terrorism, Dec. 5, 2007.
Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jerry Morrison