Washington, September 01, SPA -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Monday a report from the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan likely will highlight both positive and negative aspects of the military’s performance there. Gates told Bloomberg Television that he has not seen the report from U.S. Army General Stanley McChrystal. “It’s a mixed picture in Afghanistan,” Gates said during a visit to Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter factory in Fort Worth, Texas. “There are a lot of challenges, but I think some of the doom-and-gloom perhaps is somewhat overdrawn.” Gates cited recent elections as a positive factor, although he acknowledged that U.S. casualties were rising. “There’s no question we have a very tough fight in front of us, a lot of challenges,” he said. McChrystal’s report was delivered to U.S. and NATO military leaders Monday. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/696999