Today, General LloydAustin became the first African-American to lead the U.S. Central Command, which has a wide-ranging area of responsibility for 20 countries in the Middle East and southwest Asia.
Mr Gates, who arrived in Baghdad on an unannounced visit on Wednesday, met the commander of US military forces in Iraq, Lt Gen LloydAustin, before holding talks with Iraqi leaders.
"Federal aid to education should actually aid education in our local Texas schools, not provide a bailout to the governor for his mismanagement of the state budget, " said U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a Democrat who represents part of Austin.