I've expressed to the Secretary of Defense, not to you yet, as well as this subcommittee, my grave concerns regarding the use of U.S. taxpayer dollars for Mi-17s, based on what we believe are false assumptions, a total lack of requirements…

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll be brief. I just want to join you in welcoming Secretary McHugh and General Casey to this subcommittee.

It's been my understanding, from serving on this subcommittee many, many years, and the Armed Services Committee, before this, when they were developing, you know, the Stryker.

But, that could be a lot of money, could it not?

But, from an engineering standpoint, it looks to me, from what I've been briefed on, that that could be a probability, more than a possibility, to do this stuff.

If we can do that, though--the Stryker has a lot of utility that some of the other vehicles don't have, right?

The threat of potential Iranian intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities have been slow to develop.

The commanders have told us, time and time again--and I just got back from my 15th visit to Iraq and 4th to Afghanistan--that they like and value this platform.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The question, I guess, now, General Casey, is, How long would it take, if we do go a double V-, or something like that, -shaped hull on the Stryker, to give them the MRAP-like protection, give them more protection?

What plans has the Missile Defense Agency made to sustain this industry, to continue to meet current deployed and future anticipated missile defense needs?

With sufficient foreign assistance, Iran could probably develop and test an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States by 2015.