Robert Gates has been chosen to be the next Untied States Defence Secretary.
In the confirmation hearing on Tuesday Gates conceded that the US is losing the war in Iraq and believed a political solution in Iraq was required to end the violence.
He said he was open to new ideas about correcting the US course in Iraq
"There needs to be a change in our approach in Iraq, that what we are doing now is not working satisfactorily. In my view, all options are on the table in terms of how we address this problem in Iraq."
63-year-old Robert Gates, a former CIA director, would replace Donald Rumsfeld if confirmed.
US deaths in Iraq are approaching 29 thousand amid relentless insurgency and escalating sectarian violence in the country.
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