Statement by Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

(Below remarks were made to reporters at approximately 12:30 p.m. EST outside the airport terminal in Manama, Bahrain.)

 “I’ve been kept informed all day long about the tsunami in Japan, the earthquake and tsunami.  As best we can tell, all of our people are OK, our ships and military facilities are all in pretty good shape.  We obviously have huge sympathy for the people of Japan and we are prepared to help them in any way we possibly can.  It’s obviously a very sophisticated country, but this is a huge disaster and we will do all, anything we are asked to do to help out.”