I think there is little question, as the three of you have expressed so well this morning, the importance of this kind of attention and focus and the resources that must go with it as to the future of our security, if nothing else…

I would suspect that has a direct effect on the attitude and the evaluation and the confidence that an Afghan army would instill in the people in Afghanistan.

Yes, I would agree with you that having Afghans provide security for their President is the objective that we and they want to secure.

We would appreciate it if someone at DOD could explain to us why they asked for $6.1 billion.

Did you understand the purpose of this hearing this morning, really?

Gentlemen, thank you for coming before this committee this morning.

Afghanistan has come a long way since its liberation from the Taliban, but it remains a country on the razor's edge.

The Government of President Hamid Karzai has made great gains in setting Afghanistan on the path to stability and progress.

In authorizing the use of force against Iraq, we are at the beginning of a road that has no clear end.

It will serve as the framework, both intentionally and unintentionally, for the future.

While I cannot predict the future, I believe that what we decide in this chamber this week will influence America's security and role in the world for the coming decades.

I believe Secretary-designate Powell is extraordinarily well-prepared to meet these challenges.

I have been rather vocal over the last 4 years about speaking out against our own unilateral sanction imposition.

I think it has been well covered this morning, but I just wanted for the record to add my voice to that in support.

Not since the distinguished service of General George Marshall has a soldier-statesman come to this position with Secretary-designate Powell's degree of experience.

I am persuaded this law needs to be changed for the good of the Republic, for the good of democracy.

The big thing I see in the system right now is we have a very high barrier to public service.

I think it is very important to hang on to the bill the Senator from Wisconsin and the Senator from Arizona have put before us on campaign finance reform.