Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently noted contractors "take the place of soldiers" to do other, more pressing work.

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Gates himself noted that increased military presence must be accompanied by non-military solutions if progress is to be made in the war.

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The Journal noted that Gates mentioned this lack of funding, and in particular pointed his finger at the paucity of government financial support.

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The Times article noted that seven years ago Bill Gates predicted the war on spam would be won in two years.

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And as you noted, Warren Buffett, Bill and Melinda Gates and others who have taken the pledge were participants in that meeting.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

Melinda Gates (in photo), another panelist who arrived in Davos after visiting Tanzania and Ethiopia, noted that girls who have babies in their teens are five times more likely to die in childbirth than women in their twenties and older.

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