John McCain

I welcome Admiral Greenert and General Jacoby and their families and I congratulate them on their nominations.

For that investment in time and money, we have to show one partially completed ship and no additional combat capability.

Do you agree with General Chilton's assessment? If so, do you believe that the global threat environment has changed in any way since General Chilton made these comments to merit a near-term reduction in the size or scope of our nuclear…

Without a comprehensive strategy review, a fundamental look at what we are asking our forces to do, without a change in activity, we won't be able to meet the global force management plan today.

I am deadly serious about the fact that the costs of both of these programs are simply unsustainable.

President Calderon continues to act with great courage in this fight and he has achieved significant successes with the capture or killing of several powerful cartel kingpins.

We discussed the likelihood of deep cuts in future defense budgets and the uncertainty about how these cuts will affect defense personnel, equipment, readiness, and capabilities.

An unnecessary risk in my view.

We have to develop a strategy. This is a serious, serious issue.

Congress has not done its job, but certainly DOD has not done its job.

I don't think I can put a number on that. I think we need to, if we're going to commit to these wars...

Are you concerned about that?

So we have announced cuts without the commensurate strategy to go along with it? Not comforting.

The Nation could not be more proud of their families.

In fact, General Petraeus and others have testified that it increased the risk.

Do you agree that any reductions to the size and scope of the stockpile should be multilateral and involve not only other nuclear powers but also in serious consultation with our key non-nuclear allies dependent on U.S. nuclear forces?

This will also require support from Congress to complete the right-sizing of the airlift fleet.

$100 billion was the initial, now it's $400 billion, $800 billion; I'm hearing $1 trillion.

Have you assessed and looked at, in your previous role, the impact on our ability to supply the forces in Afghanistan?

General Petraeus did not give him this option of the accelerated withdrawal so that they didn't have two fighting seasons.

Senator McCain. General Fraser, reportedly, a year-long military-led investigation recently concluded that U.S. taxpayers' money has been indirectly funneled to the Taliban under a $2.2 billion ground transportation contract.

General Fraser, how confident are you that TRANSCOM will be able to fully support the movement of troops and equipment that will be needed to implement our strategy in Afghanistan?

By virtue of being an aircraft carrier, it's typically offensive. It's made to project power.

I will remain committed to a safe, secure, and effective nuclear force at levels that maintain strategic deterrence and stability vis-a-vis Russia and China.

In what ways can DOD expand its support to President Calderon and his government to combat the cartels?