Ben Nelson: “We cannot just be catching up or trying to stay at par with the rest of the world or otherwise our defenses are down.”

While the administration may be moving forward in anticipation of a new reduction, anything that it's doing is not intended to be unilateral.

Can you explain the importance of preserving your operating spectrum in general and how any movement from it should be paid for and coordinated from your perspective, the Navy's?

I'm very much in favor of moving forward with a follow-on treaty.

I was very uncomfortable seeing that $400 million disappear, with the representations that we've made to be fully funded to carry out the program.