I am very supportive of an enduring relationship with Afghanistan.

The Department estimates that the additional net cost to support and protect families in the CENTCOM AOR will be approximately $6 million per year.

The safety of our Air Force members and their families is our number one priority.

Would it be in our national security interest to open up transportation routes in the north to get supplies and equipment into Afghanistan without having to send everything through Pakistan?

It is in our national security interest to have a political relationship with the Afghan Government and people; do you agree with that?

Do you agree it's in our national security interest to have a military relationship with the Afghan Government, security forces, and people post-2014?

It does. It matters a lot, because that's the place where the attacks of September 11 were planned; is that correct?

This is a critical area for us regarding Afghanistan.

Do you agree with me that the counterterrorism component that exists today will be needed past 2014 to make sure al Qaeda and Taliban do not regenerate?

Would you agree with me that if we had such an enduring relationship, it would be a signal to Iran that needs to be sent?

I think it's just completely brain-dead for us even to consider this, and we're not going to let it happen.

Do you agree that it is now time for the Pakistani Government to step up and make a decision as to who they are and what they want to be?

Do you agree with me that we need to embed some American soldiers in the future to make sure the Afghan army develops in a mature professional fashion?

Do you agree with me that training of the Afghan army will be a need that goes past 2014?

On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is it for Iraq to end well, become stable, and not be a satellite state of Iran?

We would take the finest military in the history of mankind and gut it, is that right?

Do you agree with me it would be in our national security interest to leave behind a military footprint that would have American air power available to the Afghan security forces and counterterrorism units to suppress the Taliban as far as…

Please realize, to the committee and those who are listening, that how it ends does matter.