The security decisions that get made by the Department of State have to be well informed by the Department of Defense.

I think that's a challenge that we face in that area, and particularly with what we talked about, with the arms that are still flowing in that area.

So, we still really need to get much tougher on these arms. This is a dangerous situation...

If we get to a number that's so low that we can't protect our own troops, I'm going to be very concerned about that.

The recommendations that you provided, and the number that was ended up, that Senator McCain just asked you, was that number significantly below what you recommended?

It was reported, at the time, that your recommendations were between 14,000 to 18,000 troops. Was that accurate?

Senator McCain asked you about the 34,000 withdrawal that the President announced the other day.

I look forward to working with him, and look forward to your commitment to make sure that we can give you all the tools that you need.

Here is what is troubling me. You have testified before this committee today that you have never been for unilateral nuclear disarmament; in other words, unilateral actions by the United States of America.

One of the first challenges that we face, and I think one of the greatest national security threats that we face, is the march of Iran toward obtaining a nuclear weapon.

I find myself on this nomination in a very different place.

I think there's a huge distinction when we're dealing with a regime that is the largest state sponsor of terrorism.

I would just echo the comments that have been made already by this committee and by you that this is action that we need to get moving on immediately.

I would hope that we would follow up on this specific question because it seems to me to be critical as we look at the situation going forward.

I appreciate Secretary Clinton's taking responsibility for what happened and, as she points out in her letter to this committee, for going even further than the recommendations in the report to address the mistakes that were made.

I was disappointed by the president's initial proposal.

I want to echo Chair Landrieu's remarks about what a privilege it has been to serve with you, Senator Snowe.

It may be messy, but it is going to get done.