US not winning the war in Iraq, says Gates

The man lined up as the next US Defence Secretary today conceded that the US is not winning the war in Iraq and warned that if that country is not stabilised in the next year or two it could lead to a “regional conflagration”.

At the outset of his Senate confirmation hearing to replace Donald H Rumsfeld, Gates said he is open to new ideas about correcting the US course in Iraq – his highest priority if confirmed as expected.