Gates Visits Baghdad for Look at Iraq Situation

美新防长访问伊拉克观察局势

The new U.S. Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, is in Baghdad on an unannounced visit to get a first-hand look at the situation there and hold talks with American military commanders.

Mr. Gates arrived in the Iraqi capital Wednesday -- just two days after taking oath of office. Mr. Gates has stressed that failure in Iraq "would be a calamity that would haunt our nation, impair our credibility and endanger Americans for decades to come."

Hours before his arrival, at least 12 people were killed and dozens of others wounded in two separate suicide car bombings in Baghdad.

美国新任国防部长罗伯特.盖茨在未经宣布的情况下对伊拉克进行访问，亲眼观察那里的局势，并和美军指挥官举行会谈。

盖茨星期三抵达伊拉克首都巴格达，他两天前刚宣誓就职。盖茨强调，在伊拉克失败“将是一场灾难，会在今后几十年成为缠绕我们国家的梦魇、损害我们的信誉并危及美国人民的安全”。

在盖茨抵达巴格达之前数小时，巴格达发生了两起自杀炸弹袭击，造成至少12人死亡、数十人受伤。