Robert Gates in America's War Zones
Jim Watson / AFP / Getty
View of the Battlefield
Defense Secretary Robert Gates receives a briefing while visiting soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, at combat outpost Senjaray outside Kandahar on September 3. Gates made a series of stops in Afghanistan during a surprise visit after visiting Iraq earlier in the month.
Get the Latest Photos from Time.com
Get TIME photos and pictures of the week delivered directly to your inbox.