Gates warns failure in Iraq would be a 'calamity'

New US defence secretary Robert Gates says Iraq is his top priority and warned that failure there would be a “calamity” that would haunt the United States for many years.

The former CIA chief pledged to give president George Bush his honest advice on the costly and unpopular war, and said he would go to Iraq soon to see what US commanders believe should be done to quell the growing violence.