Wearing U.S. Flag cuff links, Defense Secretary-designate Robert Gates, President Bush's choice to replace Donald Rumsfeld, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006 during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. AP Photo logo AP Photo 36 months ago

Wearing U.S. Flag cuff links, Defense Secretary-designate Robert Gates, President Bush's choice to replace Donald Rumsfeld, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006 during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

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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. U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (R) shakes hands 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.
  8. 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.
  9. Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld speaks as former Vice President Dick Cheney listens at the Center For Security Policy dinner at Union Station in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009.
  10. Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld speaks as former Vice President Dick Cheney listens at the Center For Security Policy dinner at Union Station in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009.

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  11. AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - DECEMBER 10: Thomas Abercrombie of the New Zealand Breakers collects the rebound during the round 12 NBL match between the New Zealand Breakers and the Perth Wildcats at the North Shore Events Centre on December 10, 2009 in Auckland, New Zealand.
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