I have seen no leadership from the Administration suggesting proposals of this order. Would you urge them to begin this process now?

the currently improving economic numbers should not distract us from some very disturbing trends that persist

the structural changes that appear to be siphoning off jobs to places around the world

Then why do you not propose a budget that reflects accurately all the costs that you anticipate over the next year for Afghanistan and Iraq?

If this supplemental is delayed past September 30, say the end of November, or even delayed until the following year, which is customary nowadays, you will burn out all the money that is appropriated?

The most remarkable thing about this budget is what it leaves out, not what it includes.

If you could provide me a more specific written response----

It appears to me that we lost 10,000 soldiers, real boots on the ground, at a time we had stop-loss orders in effect.

I think it is a deceptive way to finance the operations of the military and I think it also has practical ramifications.

General Schoomaker was here a few weeks ago and said that at the current burn rate of spending on Iraq and Afghanistan he would be out of funds by October 1 unless there was a supplemental appropriation.

Thank you, gentlemen, for your service to the Nation, which begins and ends with the profound appreciation of the service and sacrifice of the young Americans you lead, and I thank you for that, too.

One of the key aspects of an operational test is that you control the tests, not the contractors.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

It sounds to me like a violation of the Geneva Convention.

Mr. Secretary, do you think crouching naked for 45 minutes is humane?

What I've heard from you is dissembling and avoidance of answers, and lack of knowledge, pleading legal process.

So if he's dressed up, that's fine, but this also has other environmental manipulation.

Would you describe this as a good interrogation technique or a violation of the Geneva Conventions?