I tell people in Maine that we cannot audit the Department of Defense, and their jaws drop. We got to fix that.

I just plead with you to be aware and try to find areas of overlap and duplication where we can save the taxpayers some money.

My understanding is that all of the heroin that comes into the United States is coming from countries just to the south of our border.

I would urge you to pursue that aggressively because it seems to me that is one of the serious problems.

I hope that you will pay particular attention to, A, the potential for catastrophic overruns in new programs, and B, the challenge of building a new platform that is modular, if you will, or modifiable so that we do not face technological…

It does not appear to have been all that effective. I would hope that this might be a focus.

It is also that political solution that is desperately needed so they have the will to fight, so they believe in their government.

If the government in Baghdad had been more inclusive starting 10 years ago, we might not have had the rise of ISIS.

If they don't, this battle is lost.

All of your experience, all of your knowledge, all of your wisdom that you have accumulated over the years are of no value if you do not share them.

I think there is nothing inherently prohibiting the Iraqi Security Forces from a will to fight with the exception of a lack of proper leadership.

I think it is one of the best statements I have ever heard about the role and mission of the Army.

Isn't it true that, in terms of icebreakers, which are the roadbuilders of the Arctic, we have one little country road, and--they have a bunch of interstate highways, or something like 40 icebreakers, we have one.

We're playing defense, and we're not winning very--we're not getting very far.

The President isn't well served if he doesn't have people who tell him the straight truth.

We're facing a catastrophic attack, in my view, akin to the next Pearl Harbor.

it's one of the great disappointments of my 2½ years here that we have not yet brought significant cyber legislation to the floor of the U.S. Senate.

policymakers don't need 'yes' men, they need criticism and straightforward advice.