Gates Warns of 'Protracted' Iraq Stay Troops will remain to support government, Defense chief says By Heather McPherson Posted Aug 6, 2007 10:01 AM CDT Copied In this photograph provided by "Meet the Press," Secretary of Defense Robert Gates appears on "Meet the Press'" Sunday, Aug. 5, 2007, at the NBC studios in Washington. (AP Photo/Meet The Press, Alex Wong) (Associated Press) US troops will likely remain in Iraq for a "protracted period of time," Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned yesterday. Soldiers would remain as a "stabilizing and supporting force" for the government long after combat troop numbers are reduced, he said in a CNN interview. Gates couldn't say when such a drawdown of the 160,000 soldiers would begin. He said he preferred to await next month's vaunted security assessment by the US ambassador to Iraq and top military commander. The recent troop surge has helped quell some violence, Gates contended, but politically the "picture is quite mixed." A general last week predicted that the US would be needed in Iraq "a few more years." Read These Next Two photos show 'person of interest' in Kirk shooting. MSNBC analyst fired for his take on Charlie Kirk shooting. Disturbing video of Charlie Kirk shooting was spreading online. Bob Menendez's wife is going to prison for years. Report an error