OK Foolstroupe, either yourself or Bobert go through the transcript of the hearing and prove me wrong, show me where Dr. Robert Gates stated that "the US is losing the Iraq war".

I can listen to something and know what is being said, I can read something and determine what being said. In no way could I translate - "We are not winning the war against the insurgents but at the same time we are not losing it" into - "the US is losing the Iraq war". Maybe you and Bobert can, and all that suggests to me is that your comprehension skills are somewhat lacking.

By the bye Foolstroupe, in most situations involving an armed insurgency there is rarely, if ever a successful military victory. The conflict is usually fought to a stalemate situation in which the insurgent side recognises that it is pointless to continue the armed struggle and opts for dialogue and political compromise.