Gates: Afghan exit timeline ‘a mistake’

“We could do good things in Afghanistan for the next 100 years and fail,” he told “60 Minutes” for a profile that aired Sunday. “Because we’re doing a lot of good things, and it just doesn’t add up to success. And we’ve got to think quicker.”

Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, said Mr. Obama ought to meet Gen. McChrystal’s request, which he said was for 30,000 to 40,000 troops.

“I think it’s the worst - one of the many worst-kept secrets in Washington. It’s 30,000 to 40,000 troops,” Mr. McCain said on “This Week.” “I think you will see signs of success in a year to 18 months, if we implement the strategy right away.”

Regarding the Obama administration’s ability to meet its deadline to close the detention facility for terrorism suspects at the U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, by January, Mr. Gates said that “it’s going to be tough.”

Mr. Gates added on “State of the Union” that the effort to close the detention center “has proven more complicated than anticipated.”

Still, he said he advised Mr. Obama soon after his election last year to set a deadline to close Guantanamo because “that’s the only way you move the bureaucracy in Washington.”

“And if you have to extend that date, if at least you have a strong plan, showing you’re making progress in that direction, then it shouldn’t be a problem to extend it,” he added. “We’ll just see whether that has to happen or not.”