If confirmed, I will continue to work with OMB and Congress to seek the resources necessary to provide the military capabilities the defense of our Nation requires.

I support the continued modernization, and expansion if necessary, of the GMD system and the other missile defense efforts that can contribute to the protection of the homeland in the future.

The President is on record as saying, and I agree, that the United States cannot accept any limits on its BMD systems.

Improving the Department's financial management capability is an important priority and if confirmed, I will ensure that senior leaders are focused on this goal and hold them accountable.

Current reductions in the Army and Marine Corps are being carefully managed in order to balance risk with the right mix of capabilities necessary to fulfill all of the missions required by the Defense Strategic Guidance.

If confirmed, I will uphold this commitment.

my broad priorities for defense energy investments will be those that: increase military capabilities, provide more mission success, and lower total cost.

I believe the Department's primary operational energy goal should be to ensure operational military readiness.

the concerns the Joint Chiefs have expressed about readiness come from a variety of factors, including the challenges of recovering from 10 years of operational stress, of transitioning to a broader range of operations, and of doing all of…

It is vitally important that they be ready to respond to the Nation's needs, and I am concerned that further budget cuts will negatively affect readiness.

By prioritizing resources for Asia and the Middle East, the current defense strategy accepts some risk in terms of the military's ability to address security challenges elsewhere.

The rebalance will inform the allocation of activities and resources to the Asia-Pacific.

I believe the phased adaptive approach takes the appropriate steps to protect our interests in the region.

I do not believe that providing lethal support to the armed opposition at this time would improve the terrible situation in Syria.

I was against it. I thought the Bush administration had not defined a clear end state for the war in Iraq.

I agree financial management improvement is an important priority and support the Department's current plan to have the budgetary statement ready for audit by 2014.

I agree on the importance of the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) for setting the parameters for our forces in Afghanistan after 2014.

My view is we cannot let any nation achieve parity with the United States in our ability to control the air.