US defense chief Gates says plugging oil leak is beyond military’s expertise, no role seen

Gates: No wider role for military now in oil spill

SINGAPORE — U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is rejecting a more forceful role for the military in plugging the Gulf of Mexico oil leak.

Gates says the deep-water disaster is beyond the military’s expertise.

Oil company BP is using its own equipment to try to stop the leak — equipment the U.S. military does not have.

Speaking in Singapore, where he is meeting with Asian defense officials, Gates said Friday that the U.S. military is ready to do whatever it can to respond. But he also said there isn’t much the military can do beyond providing some manpower.

There is a growing call for some kind of federal takeover of the spill, which has now been gushing for six weeks.