The Navy is busier than it was last year. How do you square that?

There was no doubt in our mind before we left that our military is by far the best-trained, best-equipped, and most capable fighting force in the world today.

Here is my question: have you provided an assessment of the military utility of the national missile defense system to be deployed in 2004?

They are focused on their duty and their mission, and that they are aware of the fact that should they be called upon to go to war, that they will have the 100 percent support of the American people.

I also believe very firmly that the Iraqi leaders should not infer from these debates that America will not be united in support of its forces in the field.

So are you saying that if we make a proposal along this line it would be for patrols in a non-hostile environment?

the absence of a long-range target that will be able to exercise the Cobra Dane radar will preclude a system-level flight test of the 2004 national missile defense system.

Admiral Fargo, in your written testimony you indicated that al Qaeda has given financial aid to a number of terrorist groups in the southern Philippines.

I think these proposals, taken together or separately, would undermine the ability of the uniformed military to provide independent military advice to the civilian leadership, to the executive branch, and to Congress.

I want to concur in what he said about our borders.

The number one threat that we all face is the proliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.

Would you take a look at the Senate bill 6, which was introduced by Senator Daschle and others at the beginning of Congress?

General Kadish, do the Aegis ships to be deployed off the coast of North Korea as part of the Block 2004 system have the demonstrated capability to track an ICBM targeting Hawaii from North Korea with enough accuracy to prosecute an…

I am surprised that you even answered this in an unclassified setting.

I think some others who have expressed themselves on this are troubled by the exaggerated description.

These types of clauses, as far as we know, have never been used for any fielded system in history.

The Defense Department, as I indicated, sought the repeal of the 1993 prohibition on that research and development effort that could lead to the production of a low-yield nuclear weapon.

that is troubling to many of us.