Senate committee approves Gates nomination … WASHINGTON (CNN) — The Senate Armed Services Committee unanimously approved President Bush's defense secretary nomination Tuesday and sent it to the full Senate for approval, the committee's outgoing chairman said.

Gates Says U.S. Is Not Winning Iraq War  —  WASHINGTON (AP) - Robert Gates, the White House choice to be the next defense secretary, conceded Tuesday that the United States is losing the war in Iraq and warned that if that country is not stabilized in the next year or two it could lead to a "regional conflagration."

The Gathering Storm  —  Sanity in this White House?  It's possible.  One feels a sense of great relief to hear the candor of Bob Gates in his Senate hearings.  We are losing the war in Iraq; and our incompetence may have triggered the beginning of a massive regional conflagration.

Kansan To Lead The DGA  —  Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) will become chairwoman of the Democratic Governors Association next year, officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity told the Associated Press.  —  The Democrats are coming off a successful campaign season, picking up six statehouses in last month's elections.