When we respond, we want to respond with overwhelming force. We are not looking for a fair fight here, right?

I just want the country to understand that this is not the Petraeus strategy any longer.

But politicians are accountable to the voters. The generals are accountable to their troops, to their chain of command, and to Congress.

I believe there are those who could have...

If we withdraw the 33,000 by September of next year, will this still be a counterinsurgency operation?

I really do believe that they are trying to cover up, the Karzai Government and other people in Afghanistan are trying to cover up the extent of the fraud and manipulation in this bank.

We are asking the Pakistan Government to help us find Mullah Omar, who has tried to destroy Afghanistan, who has formed an allegiance with al Qaeda.

the use of rail to move DOD's assets is a 'must-be included' in any mobilization or reset plan developed?

Mr. Panetta, in your opinion, are our Nation's first responders currently equipped with the best possible pre- and post-exposure radiation therapeutics?

it is critical to have a logistics infrastructure capable of moving DOD's vehicles and assets to and from their reset and storage facilities.

Mr. Panetta, if confirmed, would you be willing to further investigate this issue in order to determine what roadblocks have halted the procurement of such a promising drug, and how best to remove such hindrances?

Have we had enough people in RC-East since December 2009 to have an effective counterinsurgency?

Mr. Panetta, would you commit to further dialogue on this issue and to provide regular updates to ensure our government and the American people are as protected as possible against these imminent threats?

Isn't that kind of stupid?

If the Iraqis ask us to provide some troops in 2012, Secretary Gates says he thinks that would be smart.

The statement to me that it makes, there is no place you can go and no passage of time that will protect you from justice being delivered by the American people.

I couldn't agree with you more. I don't think, quite frankly, we are going to be able to sustain our efforts in Afghanistan until we deal with the safe havens.

But on behalf of the people of South Carolina and I think most members of this committee, if you are listening in Pakistan, you need to choose.