Gates Cancels Latin America Trip (to focus on Iraq) - AP

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Gates Cancels Latin America Trip

The Associated Press
Sunday, July 8, 2007; 4:11 PM

WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates scrapped
plans to go on a four-nation tour of Latin America this week
and will instead stay home to attend meetings on Iraq, the
Pentagon announced Sunday.

The meetings are related to a progress report on Iraq that
is due to be delivered to Congress by July 15.

Congress mandated the preliminary report and required it to
be followed by another one in September. The report's
findings could add to the pressure to end the war or change
strategies.

It is due out as a growing number of moderate Republicans,
including Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana, a member of the
Foreign Relations Committee, voice concerns.

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Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/08/AR2007070800628.html