U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (R) poses for a picture with a soldier at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Walton in Kandahar, Afghanistan, June 5, 2011. The gradual withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Afghanistan set to begin next month will be done responsibly and will not expose other coalition and Afghan forces to undue risks, Gates said on Sunday. REUTERS/Jason Reed (AFGHANISTAN - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY)