Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, is seen with Adm. Robert Willard, center, the new head of the U.S. Pacific Command, and Adm. Michael Mullen, right, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during a ceremony at Pacific Command headquarters at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. A fighter pilot who made a cameo appearance as a Tom Cruise foe in "Top Gun" has taken over as the top U.S. military commander in Asia and the Pacific. Willard assumed control of the U.S. Pacific Command in a ceremony presided over by Defense Secretary Gates, who stopped in Hawaii en route to meetings in Japan and South Korea. AP Photo logo AP Photo 1 month ago

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, is seen with Adm. Robert Willard, center, the new head of the U.S. Pacific Command, and Adm. Michael Mullen, right, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during a ceremony at Pacific Command headquarters at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. A fighter pilot who made a cameo appearance as a Tom Cruise foe in "Top Gun" has taken over as the top U.S. military commander in Asia and the Pacific. Willard assumed control of the U.S. Pacific Command in a ceremony presided over by Defense Secretary Gates, who stopped in Hawaii en route to meetings in Japan and South Korea.

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  1. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and his South Korean counterpart Kim Tae-young participate in a joint news conference at South Korea's defense ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009. Gates said Thursday that North Korea continues to pose a grave threat to international peace and pledged to protect South Korea with Washington's full military might, including its nuclear capabilities.
  2. Protesters holding portraits of U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and his South Korean counterpart Kim Tae-young shout a slogan during a rally against the Security Consultative Meeting, or SCM, between the U.S. and South Korea in front of the Defense Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009. Gates said Wednesday the United States will never accept a North Korea with atomic bombs, saying the communist regime poses threats "even more lethal and destabilizing."
  3. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates (R) shakes hands with his South Korean counterpart Kim Tae-young during Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) at the Defense Ministry in Seoul October 22, 2009. Gates said on Thursday that North Korea poses a threat to his country's allies in North Asia and promised to protect them under the U.S. nuclear deterrent.
  4. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, shakes hands with his South Korean counterpart Kim Tae-young during Security Consultative Meeting or SCM at the Defense Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009. Gates said Wednesday the United States will never accept a North Korea with atomic bombs, saying the communist regime poses threats "even more lethal and destabilizing."
  5. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, arrives to sign the guest book before meeting South Korean Prime Minister Chung Un-chan as U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kathleen Stephens looks on at the Government Complex in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009. Gates said Wednesday the United States will never accept a North Korea with atomic bombs, saying the communist regime poses threats "even more lethal and destabilizing" than before.
  6. U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (L) talks with Japan's Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada at the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo October 20, 2009. The United States wants to stick to a deal on realigning U.S. troops in Japan, Defense Secretary Gates said on Tuesday, giving Japan's new government little room to move on an issue that could test ties.
  7. US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates(L) and Chariman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen hold a press conference in the briefing room of the Pentagon in Washington, DC November 19, 2009, speaking about the shooting at Fort Hood. Gates on Thursday announced a major review of the Fort Hood shootings to examine if the military had missed warning signs or remained 'vulnerable' to similar assaults. The 45-day review would look at possible 'lapses or problems' before this month's army base shooting that killed 13 people and 'what can we do to prevent something like this from happening again,' Gates told a news conference.
  8. US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates(L) and Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen(R), deliver remarks on the status of the US war in Afghanistan, from inside the Pentagon briefing room September 3, 2009, in Washington.
  9. US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates(L) and Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen(R) enter the Pentagon briefing room to deliver remarks on the status of the US war in Afghanistan September 3, 2009, in Washington, DC.
  10. Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen(R), listens as US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates(L) delivers remarks on the status of the US war in Afghanistan from inside the Pentagon briefing room September 3, 2009, in Washington.
  11. ARLINGTON, VA - NOVEMBER 19: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Admiral Michael Mullen answers questions from reporters during news conference at the Pentagon November 19, 2009 in Arlington, Virginia. In the wake of the Ft. Hood attack, Mullen and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced that former Army Secretary Togo West and former chief of naval operations Adm. Vernon Clark will head the 45-day review of personnel programs, medical screenings and release and discharge policies, as well as the department's stateside security programs at bases and other facilities.
  12. ARLINGTON, VA - NOVEMBER 19: U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates (R) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Admiral Michael Mullen hold a news conference at the Pentagon November 19, 2009 in Arlington, Virginia. In the wake of the Ft. Hood attack, Gates announced that former Army Secretary Togo West and former chief of naval operations Adm. Vernon Clark will head the 45-day review of personnel programs, medical screenings and release and discharge policies, as well as the department's stateside security programs at bases and other facilities.
  13. NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 10: ; NEWSDAY, NY DAILY Katie Holmes is shown on the set of 'The Romantics' November 10, 2009 on Long Island, New York.
  14. Actor Tom Cruise, left, signs autographs before the Washington Redskins and the Detroit Lions NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009.
  15. Actor Tom Cruise, left, talks with Washington Redskins coach Jim Zorn before the start of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009.
  16. Actor Tom Cruise, right, talks with Washington Redskins head coach Jim Zorn before an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009.

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  10. BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 22: Adam Gilchrist of the ACA All*Stars shows his frustration after being dismissed caught behind off the bowling of Peter Siddle of Australia during the Twenty20 exhibition match between Australia and the ACA All*Stars at The Gabba on November 22, 2009 in Brisbane, Australia.
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