Gates: Shutdown could shrink troops' pay

BAGHDAD, April 7 (UPI) -- A government shutdown could impact U.S. troops' pay, which could be a problem if a shutdown is lengthy, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday in Iraq.

Gates made an unannounced stop in Iraq as part of a Middle East mission that included a trip to Saudi Arabia to meet with King Abdullah.

On Thursday, Gates is to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, President Jalal Talabani and others Iraqi officials, The Washington Post said.

Speaking to about 175 troops at Camp Liberty in Baghdad, Gates said a government shutdown would mean military personnel would get partial paychecks for the first half of April. If it extended into the second half of April, paychecks would stop until the government resumes normal operations and issues reimbursement pay later.

The federal government is poised to shut down Friday when a temporary funding measure expires, if congressional negotiators fail to strike a deal on the fiscal 2011 budget.

"First of all, you will get paid," Gates said, joking about the wisdom "to always pay the guys with guns first."

More seriously, Gates said an interruption would hurt military families, many living paycheck to paycheck.

"I hope this thing doesn't happen," he said.

Gates said Thursday's visit to Iraq likely would be his last as defense secretary. He announced plans to step down this year.

Speaking to the troops, Gates noted the relative calm in Baghdad as the U.S. military continues its withdrawal from Iraq, with an end-of-the-year deadline to withdraw the remaining 47,000 troops. U.S. combat operations ended last year, and many troops are in training operations with Iraqi soldiers.

Talking with journalists later, Gates said when he became defense secretary, "I was asked what my agenda was, and I said, Iraq, Iraq and Iraq."

Gates described his session with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah as an "extremely cordial, warm meeting," the Times reported. He said he did not discuss Saudi Arabia's decision to send troops to help quell an uprising in Bahrain -- one of the most touchy issues between the two countries.

The two did discuss common concerns, particularly the threat of Iran to the region and the United States' recent $60 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia.

"I think the relationship is in a good place," Gates said. "We talked about developments all over the region. Obviously we talked about Iran."