Robert Gates, the nominee to replace Donald Rumsfeld, testified today at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee that the U.S. was “not winning the war in Iraq, and that an American failure there could help to ignite “a regional conflagration” in the Middle East.”

The statements about the situation in Iraq came during exchanges with Senators Carl Levin of Michigan, the panel’s ranking Democrat and soon to be chairman, and John McCain, Republican of Arizona, during Mr. Gates’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“Mr. Gates, do you believe that we are currently winning in Iraq?” Mr. Levin asked.

“No, sir,” Mr. Gates replied, going on to agree with the senator that a political settlement is needed to end the blood-letting, and that the United States needed to convey “a sense of urgency” to the Iraqis about reaching an accord.

Mr. Levin said Mr. Gates’s remarks amounted to a “necessary, refreshing breath of reality.”

Senator McCain pursued the point about victory being elusive. “We are not winning the war in Iraq, is that correct?” the senator asked.

“That is my view, yes, senator,” Mr. Gates replied.

“And therefore the status quo is not acceptable?” Mr. McCain pressed.

“That is correct, sir,” Mr. Gates said.

He added that the United States is not losing the war, either.

His assessment came minutes after Senator John W. Warner, the Virginia Republican who heads the committee, said he believed that the United States was “drifting sideways” in Iraq, and that the American people are demanding change.

Mr. Gates said “there clearly were insufficient troops in Iraq after the initial invasion.” While he said that he envisions “a dramatically smaller” number of United States troops there, he said an American presence would be required “for a long time.”

It’s expected at this point that Gates will be confirmed by the end of the week. Maybe it’s the anyone but Rumsfeld syndrome.. Gates has already been through the process when he was nominated to head the CIA 15 years ago. At the time some Dems on today’s committee opposed Gates “due to his role in the Iran-contra scandal of two decades ago.” This time around looks like clear sailing.

The following is Senator Kennedy’s statement from today’s nomination hearing:

Dr. Gates, I join those in thanking you for your public service, your willingness to come back in and deal with this challenge that we’re facing now on national security, defense, and primarily the issue of Iraq. And I’m grateful for the time that we had talking in my office.

To pick up on a sentiment that Senator McCain expressed, we have lost 60 soldiers in my state of Massachusetts. I’ve talked with just about every one of their families. And they’re really interested in hearing from you about whether you’re going to be an independent figure that’s really going to fight for the best in terms of our security as we find our security today.

We know, since you have been nominated now — 59 Americans have been killed just in the 27 days since you’ve been nominated.

In the 27 days just prior to that, 92 Americans were killed. And in the 27 days prior to that, 81 Americans were killed.

We don’t know in the 27 days prior to the first of the year — how many more Americans will be killed?

And the people, the families, in my state want to know whether you’re going to be that figure that Senator Warner talked about, that fearless champion of the service men and women that is going to be consistent with our national security.

These families know they were undermanned when they went into Iraq and they were under-armored when they went into Iraq. And they know that the military has served in Iraq longer than they have in World War II — longer than World War II. They’ve done everything that they’ve been asked to do, and they’ve done it brilliantly, with extraordinary courage and valor.

And the families want to make sure that we’re going to have a policy that is worthy of their valor and their bravery. And they’re looking at you. And that’s what they want, for you to make that recommendation, and that you’ll be fearless in your battle, you’ll be a stand-up person and demonstrate the kind of courage which is going to be so necessary to do. Could you just let them know that you’re that person ready to do it for our national security and for them?

I also want to give you one more chance to respond to the statements about what good would your ‘new eyes’ do when we have had the Commander-in-Chief, who, as has been mentioned, has said in the last month:

“We’ve got a strategy for victory that will work. I truly believe the only way we won’t win is if we leave before the job is done”?

“There’s one thing I’m not going to do. I’m not going to pull the troops off the battlefield before the mission is complete.”

“We’re going to stay in Iraq to get the job done so long as the government wants us there.” And, “This business about a graceful exit just simply has no realism to it all.”

Now, in short, should we believe you or the president on the critical issue whether the administration is really willing to make a change in its policy?

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