Gates Meets With Iraqis on Military Aid

In this image released by the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, answers to questions during a press conference at Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006, as U.S. Marine Gen. and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Peter Pace, looks on. Gates, in an unannounced trip to the battlefront, discussed a possibble infusion of more U.S. troops into Iraq with American commanders, but said no decisions have been made. (AP Photo/Department of Defense, Cherie A. Thurlby) (Cherie A. Thurlby - AP)

After Gates met with U.S. soldiers at Camp Victory, several said the extra forces would help.

"Sir, I think we need to just keep doing what we're doing," Spc. Jason T. Glenn, with the 101st Military Intelligence Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Infantry Division, told Gates during a breakfast session with about 15 soldiers.

"I really think we need more troops here," Glenn said. "With more presence on the ground, more troops might hold them off long enough to where we can get the Iraqi Army trained up."

Military commanders worry that rushing thousands more Americans to the battlefront could prompt Iraqis to slow their effort to take control of their country.

Those concerns are "clearly a consideration" in mapping out future strategy, Gates said.

His hourlong question-and-answer session over scrambled eggs was spent largely gathering insights from those closest to the action.

When Gates asked whether adding forces would help, he got a roomful of nods and smattering of "yes, sir" responses.

"More troops would help us integrate the Iraq Army into patrols more," said Pfc. Cassandra Wallace, from the 10th Mountain Division.

The soldiers told him they think the Iraqi Army is getting better, but that it should be bigger and that many of the Iraqis are still not showing up for duty.

Gates, who later flew by helicopter to Balad Air Base west of Baghdad for a special operations briefing, did not tip his hand much to the soldiers.

Gates planned more meetings Friday before returning to the United States.