Robert Gates testified about his nomination as Secretary of Defense. The hearing focused on the conduct of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the future U.S. military role in Iraq. In his testimony he pledged to earnestly consult with military leaders and Congress, characterized civil strife in Iraq as part of a "regional conflagration," and said the he did not believe that U.S. forces were currently winning the war in Iraq. He also testified about efforts to combat international terrorism and the global nature of the threat to national security.