Gates: Financial crisis not making U.S. vulnerable

The financial crisis has not left the United States vulnerable to terrorist attacks, according to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

While the tumbling stock market is wiping out the personal savings of some Americans and causing chaos on Wall Street, the Pentagon has not had to take any special steps with regards to terrorism because of the financial crisis, Gates told The Hill.

{mosads}Gates made the comments after a keynote speech to the United States Institute of Peace on Wednesday. In the speech, Gates described Afghanistan as a test "on the grandest scale" for the United States

"He said succeeding would involve both U.S. and international military power as well as civilian cooperation. He also said U.S. domestic security depended on preventing further failed states.

"The security of the American people will increasingly depend on our ability to head off the next insurgency or risk the collapse of another failed state," Gates said.

Gates said that the solution to stabilizing Afghanistan is to work with tribal and provincial leaders.

"Afghanistan has been experiencing a surge in violence and U.S. military commanders there have called for more troops to deal with growing insurgency attacks. The U.S. commanders have been asking for about 15,000 more troops in Afghanistan, but the Pentagon will only be able to send about half that amount. In recent congressional testimony Gates said the Pentagon won't be able to send additional troops until next spring or summer.