I believe strongly that military leaders should be held accountable, but certainly in this situation today... the consequences of what I believe has been a failed strategy should be shared at a far higher level.

I would be interested in having those as you assume your new job. I think it is something worthy of discussion on the costs.

I have a high regard for Admiral Fallon.

I have run out of time and I wish all of you gentlemen the best in your new positions.

Aye.

I know the sacrifices that they've had to go through to help you reach the position that you're in.

Because balance is fine, but, if there's a tilt, tilt a little towards the troops.

A lot of people who wanted to move us into Iraq were openly saying that we should be on the ground in Iraq for the next 50 years.

Right, and I think that the thing that we often miss in this debate, because it's become like the Battle of the Psalm, politically, in terms of the way people have dug in up here on trying to resolve this issue, but there are instabilities that have been created, simply because we're there, and there are instabilities that could result if we leave in the wrong way. But we do need, in my view, to be moving toward that.

There were opportunities that this administration had that were arguably overlooked that could have affected Iran's conduct in a different way.

I intend to support, strongly, everyone here.

But as a guiding principle, I think we should all agree that there should be no political input in the promotion process other than through the forms of fitness reports.

I had a political position and an advisory position, but I was a part of an administration and I was identified with that administration.

I would submit that somebody needs to go in to the big boss and close the door and talk about what this is doing to the United States military.

I think it's a serious problem in a lot of different ways.

political considerations have to come in play.

when you have a uniformed military individual making political judgments and giving political advice to a political administration.

I would submit that if those other individuals were properly doing their job, this position wouldn't be necessary.