Gates visits Idaho soldiers in Iraq

BAGHDAD - Many of the positive changes that have taken place in Iraq over the past few years have been a result of the efforts of the service members deployed there, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates said during a recent visit with Idaho soldiers in Baghdad.

"The difference that you and those like you have made in this country is evident around you every single day," said Gates. "You've gone from establishing joint security stations, that I visited in Baghdad in 2007, to now and (fulfilling) the advise and assist role. It marks the progress that you and those that have sacrificed so much have brought about."

And, Gates said that because of those efforts, the U.S. drawdown in Iraq is continuing as scheduled and that any continued presence beyond December would have to come from a direct request from the Iraqi government.

"That's basically a decision for the Iraqi government to make," he said.

But, Gates also said that as the drawdown continues, he doesn't want to see the Army as a whole lose out on the experience and knowledge that soldiers have gained, especially at the company level.

"I gave a speech at West Point and I talked about both this war and the war in Afghanistan being, essentially, the captains' wars," said Gates. "These are fundamentally small-unit wars. We're not dealing with corps in the field, or divisions in the field, but, at the largest the brigade and a lot at the battalion and the company and the platoon level."

Gates also discussed other issues affecting soldiers, such as recent unrest in places such as Libya and how that may affect other areas within the Middle East.

"I don't see any repercussions from Libya coming here," said Gates, referring to Iraq.

Gates also touched on possible changes to Army policy, such as opening combat arms positions to women.