From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

Robert Gates promises fresh eyes at the Pentagon.

Hello again, I'm Marlonalny, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

At his Senate confirmation hearing today, former CIA director Robert Gates was asked,

is America winning the war in Iraq? His answer? No.

He said there will be no easy answers if he's confirmed to replace Donald Rumsfeld.

On to the point, it's expected that Gates will be confirmed, but he's still controversial.

Does he have the background to run the world's most sophisticated military establishment?

Will he speak truth to power? Or tell the president what the president wants to hear?

On reporter's notebook later on, will Gates be upstage tomorrow by the Iraq Study Group?

We'll hear about James Baker, Lee Hamilton, and Men's Vogue magazine.

First, the news.

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and from the Public Radio International Program Fund,

whose contributors include the Ford Foundation and the John D.

and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Hello again. Warren Alney, back with To the Point. Donald Rumsfeld's proposed replacement has told

a Senate committee that America is not winning the war in Iraq. On To the Point, we'll hear more

about former CIA director Robert Gates, his controversial career, and his possible role in America's

military future.

On reporter's notebook, the Iraq study group's work is over, its leaders have sat for pictures

...