Robert Gates actually said...

I think the other audience, frankly, is the American people, who are weary after 8 years of war, and to let them know this isn't going to go...

Our hope is that the President's speech last night, and his decisions, will help change the political dynamic among some of our allies.

we need to think in terms of a very long-term willingness to work with the Afghans.

We are not an occupation force. Afghans must take primary responsibility for defending their own country.