David Boren Joins In Introducing Robert Gates

Tuesday, December 5th 2006, 12:50 pm

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former Oklahoma Senator and current University of Oklahoma President David Boren [pictured] joined in introducing Defense Secretary nominee Robert Gates at his Senate confirmation hearing today.

Boren was chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee when Gates was head of the CIA. Also introducing Gates at Tuesday's hearing was former Senator Bob Dole of Kansas.

Gates said at the start of the hearing that he's open to new ideas about correcting the U-S course in Iraq and conceded the United States isn't winning the war there.

Gates also says he believes President Bush wants to see Iraq improve to the point where it can govern and defend itself.

Gates was nominated by Bush to replace Donald Rumsfeld as defense secretary.