The U.S. is not winning war in Iraq, said Robert Gates, the White House choice to be the next US defence secretary, and unless Iraq is stabilized in the next year or two, the war could lead to a "regional conflagration".

Asked by Democratic Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan if the United States was winning in Iraq, Gates replied: "No, sir."

At his senate confirmation hearing to replace Donald Rumsfeld, Robert Gates, 63, said he believed President George W Bush wanted to see Iraq improve to the point where it could govern and defend itself, while seeking a new approach.

Gates also said he was open to new ideas about concluding the war in Iraq. "What we are now doing is not satisfactory," former CIA chief said, "In my view, all options are on the table, in terms of how we address this problem in Iraq," he added.

Meanwhile, President Bush urged the Senate to approve Gates in his position quickly.

"Bob Gates will be a fine secretary of defense," Bush told the media, "I hope for speedy confirmation so he can get sworn in and get to work."