[Kaslin]

Defense Secretary Robert Gates (R) testifies at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee on the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, on Capitol Hill in Washington September 23, 2008.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates (L) and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff US Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright (R) give testimony at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee on the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, on Capitol Hill in Washington September 23, 2008

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates (R) listens to Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff US Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright (L) testify at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee on the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, on Capitol Hill in Washington September 23, 2008.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates looks at his notes as he testifies at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee on the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, on Capitol Hill in Washington September 23, 2008.

Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman, Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, right, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman, Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

[Kaslin]

Republican vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin leaves her hotel for a meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, in New York.

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, left, meets Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, in New York.

U.S. Republican vice-presidential nominee, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (L) meets Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe at the Colombian mission residence in New York September 23, 2008.

U.S. Republican vice-presidential nominee Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (L) and Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe talk outside the Colombian mission residence in New York September 23, 2008.

U.S. Republican vice-presidential nominee Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R) meets former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at his office in New York September 23, 2008.