Extra troops 'not last chance' for Iraq success

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said today that the increase in US forces in Iraq is “not the last chance” to succeed and conceded he is considering what steps to take if the buildup does not work.

“I would be irresponsible if I weren’t thinking about what the alternatives might be,” Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Gates was questioned on the war as the full Senate remained stalled over Democratic leaders’ efforts to begin a debate over President George Bush’s course for Iraq.

He did not say what other options he was considering if the addition of 21,500 troops fails to control the violence in Baghdad and western Anbar province, where the Sunni insurgency is based.

“We at this point are planning for success,” he said.

Gates and General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sought to assure politicians that the additional troops pegged for Iraq will go there with sufficient equipment for the fight.

They said that a shortage of armoured vehicles in one phase of operations will be remedied by July, and troops who need them will not be deployed from their compound in Iraq until the vehicles are supplied.