Senate Confirmation Hearings are underway.

Today the Senate has begun its confirmation hearing regarding the appointment of Robert M. Gate to the position of Secretary of Defense. He just maybe the breath of new air the White House needs to boost morale. In his hearings Gates has said that "the U.S. is not winning the war" in Iraq, contradicting what the White House has been saying. Asked if he thought the United States was winning the war in Iraq, defense secretary nominee Robert Gates answered with a simple "No, sir." Also Gates affirmed the opinion of Sen. John McCain that we did not enter Iraq with an adequate force to keep the nation stable following the topple of Saddam Hussein's regime. Gates also said:

"Our course over the next year or two will determine whether the American and Iraqi people and the next president of the United States will face a slowly but steadily improving situation in Iraq and in the region or will face the very real risk and possible reality of a regional conflagration."

He has not suggested a time-line for Iraq, but has suggested a drastic overhaul of U.S. policy towards Iraq. Gates said that "developments in Iraq over the next year or two" would shape the Middle East and "greatly influence global geo-politics for many years to come."The nominee also told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he was "open to new ideas" regarding policy in Iraq and that "all options are on the table."

Gates in my opinion will become a beacon of hope for success and stability in Iraq, over Secretary Rumsfeld who had shut out new ideas and those on the ground. Gates has said "I welcome the many alternative strategies and tactics proposed by members of Congress and others." He is looking to everyone to come up with plans so that the best once can be used and the U.S. can achieve victory, although that seems glim.

This is a developing story and more will come from the hearings expected to rap up this afternoon and a possible vote of the Senate late this afternoon or early tomorrow.