I understand that President Obama will continue to refocus our military's efforts to this region.

Each event offers opportunities for the U.S. and the Iraqis, but also dangers.

Do you believe that Article 5 of the NATO Alliance is still credible in the eyes of the new, and old, NATO members?

It has now been over 7 years since the initial call up and mobilization of National Guard and Reserve Forces in support of the global war on terrorism.

NATO is, first and foremost, a military alliance committed to the security of its members.

I am also concerned about the apparent lack of a coherent civil-military plan for integrating our military operations with economic and political development that is so essential to success in counterinsurgency.

I expect we will all hear President Obama himself lay out his priorities for NATO at the 60th Anniversary Summit in April.

The situation in Iraq is improving, but as all of the commanders and our ambassador constantly repeat, it remains fragile and potentially reversible.

I know we discussed this as well, an Inspector General for the entire intelligence community.

I hope that you would take a look at this legislation that Senator Bingaman and I have introduced particularly providing some flexibility in the contracts between the Essential Air Service communities, the small communities and the…

They were supposed to be part of a national plan, a national infrastructure system and they truly have been left behind.

There are a number of issues that obviously you're going to have to address as Secretary of Transportation.

We have to develop a policy of some kind that's going to provide the incentives and the support to our communities.

It's great to have this committee and to have your leadership, thank you.

The two cornerstones of our transportation policy of course is the Surface Transportation Act as well as the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration.

We'll have to re-evaluate the Highway Trust Fund and the way in which we fund the Trust Fund.

It is indeed an honor to endorse the nomination of Dr. Joseph Westphal to be Under Secretary of the Army.

The operational tempo of the U.S. Army remains high as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue.