John McCain

I want to commend you, Secretary Mabus, for your effort to lead DOD in making energy efficiency and self-reliance such a priority.

Using defense dollars to subsidize new energy technologies is not the Navy's responsibility, nor is it sufficiently related to the Service's core mission to justify such expenditures.

Cuts to our naval capabilities without a plan to compensate for them puts our goals in the Asia-Pacific region at greater risk.

Guatemala has declared its second military state of siege to try to deal with the increased violence from Mexican drug cartels operating within its borders.

I think that the violence has continued to increase. It wasn't a tremendous jump this year, but those are unacceptable numbers.

My parting request to the Members of Congress is to sustain the unmatched capability of our Armed Forces, continue to support the incredibly dedicated, imaginative, flexible, and wonderful men and women in our Armed Forces, and keep faith…

What is clear from the testimony this committee has received over the last several weeks from our various regional combatant commanders is that the threats confronting our Nation, our interests, and our ideals are not diminishing. Rather…

So is it your view that we still need to-- and we have improved border security, but we need to take additional steps on the issue of border security?

I appreciate courageous decisions. I think we ought to have an assessment as to whether we are succeeding or failing.

I want to thank Congress and the distinguished members of this committee, especially Senators Levin and McCain, for your continued support to our men and women in uniform.

It's important that we continue to work very closely with the Iraqi Government, and they understand that, so they can close some of these seams that are starting to develop.

Isn't a very important piece also the polarization and possible view on the part of the Sunni that they are excluded from the government?

I want to congratulate you and Secretary McHugh on some of the acquisition changes that you've made.

General Mattis, will your plan propose an enduring base, and if so, where?

The presence of U.S. naval assets in the Gulf region varies based on articulated requirements of the combatant commander.

I'm curious about your assessment of the situation in Iraq.

I believe that your mission is more challenging today than it has been since the late 1970s.

General Mattis, the United States also operates at Isa Air Base south of Manama. What is your plan for the transition of this base from tents to a more robust set of facilities and infrastructure?

General Mattis, will these ships require any upgrades to waterfront facilities or piers?

Would you recommend that this policy be extended beyond its current expiration date of July 1, 2012?

How has this policy been implemented within the CENTCOM AOR?

I guarantee you that you will find out that it's not al Qaeda; it's people who have the same yearnings that are universal, and that's freedom, democracy, and our God-given rights.

I think we would agree that Syria out of the hands of Assad and a chance to be free and democratic would be one of the greatest blows to Iran.

Yes, sir, notably in the western Iraq area, but the threat is extending into Baghdad.

I think as we look to the future and what we're trying to accomplish, it's key that we have a strategic partnership agreement, I think similar to the one we developed in Iraq.