WASHINGTON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday unanimously approved the nomination of Robert Gates, President George W. Bush's nominee, to be defense secretary.

Gates' nomination now goes to the full Senate for a vote, where he is also expected to prevail in his bid to replace Donald Rumsfeld, a lightning rod for critics of the increasingly unpopular Iraq war.

Twenty one senators on the panel unanimously approved the nomination.

Gates told the committee earlier on Tuesday that Iraq would be his highest priority. He also said the United States was not winning in Iraq and all options for improving the situation were on the table.

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