Robert Gates

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** FILE ** President Obama, followed by, from second from left, Gen. David Petraeus, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen, walks to the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, June 23, 2010. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, left, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, right, testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 16, 2010, before the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the Defense Department's fiscal 2011 budget. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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Senate Committee Appropriations Chairman Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, left, talks with Defense Secretary Robert Gates, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 16, 2010, before the start of the committee's hearing on the Defense Department's fiscal 2011 budget. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, left, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, take their seats on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 16, 2010, prior to testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the Defense Department's fiscal 2011 budget. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, left, huddles with Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 16, 2010, during the Senate Appropriations Committee on hearing on the Defense Department's fiscal 2011 budget. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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From left, Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, Defense Robert Gates and Pentagon Comptroller Robert Hale, testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 16, 2010, before the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the Defense Department's fiscal 2011 budget. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, President Obama, and Sec. of Defense Robert Gates, made remarks and Obama lay a wreath during a ceremony at the Pentagon to honor the events of September 11, 2001. Thursday, September 11, 2009 ( Mary F. Calvert/ the Washington Times )