A strong bilateral relationship between Turkey and Israel is key to advancing stability in the region.

General Breedlove, will you look specifically at this issue related to Iran Air and Mahan Air?

We need to make sure that Israel is able to respond capably with the weapons that enable them.

I would also express the hope, to the extent you weigh in on these issues, that they would, the administration, would seek to go through Congress on these types of issues.

I think in many instances they have as much the blood of some of the Syrians that are being murdered on their hands as the Assad regime.

Do you believe it's important that Israel maintain its qualitative military edge over any potential adversary in the region?

I think it's very important for us to understand what their posture is on existing arms agreements right now.

Over the last 10 years, we've seen that the Reserve component can be a very capable resource.

I believe it would be breaking faith with our troops if we welcome home well-performing troops by handing them a pink slip.

In a constrained resource environment, the Reserve component gives the Department a unique opportunity to preserve overall operational capability and mitigate risk at reduced cost.

Taking $46 billion again at this point in the year is not going to stop the impact on our national security.

I had Chairman Dempsey here less than a week ago and he told me on a scale of 1 to 10, it was a 10 in terms of our national security.

I plan to work with Senator Blumenthal to introduce legislation to give you additional tools to cut off funds to our enemies.

When you take that kind of reduction, particularly in the civilian workforce, there will be an impact on readiness.

I look forward to working with you on this. This is a way we can make sure that taxpayer dollars do not go in the wrong hands.

I had the privilege of visiting Afghanistan in January and meeting with Major General Longo.

I think that it is an important issue as we look at the fiscal challenges facing the country.

If General Dunford told you that he believes the pace of the withdrawal is jeopardizing our interests and a positive outcome in Afghanistan, would you support his request to slow the pace of withdrawal?