John McCain

As a cost effective alternative to buying a JSF aircraft here and to ensure timely fielding of needed strike fighter capability in theater, to what extent have you explored the possibility of refixing a legacy F-15E intended for retirement?

The deployment of an additional 30,000 forces for the extended surge will be largely completed by the end of August.

This 10 percent buffer, which could temporarily raise troop levels above the maximum of 98,000, can only be authorized on a case-by-case basis by you.

What are we doing to ensure that Iraq receives the equipment and training necessary to ensure we can responsibly withdrawal as scheduled?

The budget impact would be proportional to the size of the force that is not withdrawn.

Going forward, I believe that a whole-of-government approach on both sides of the table provides the best formula for building the necessary foundation.

In short, the U.S. presence is a stabilizing influence for all claimants in the region.

Secretary Gates, are these amounts in addition to the more than $200 million per year that it is estimated to cost to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his four September 11 cohorts in New York?

Secretary Gates, are you committed to the modernization and sustainment of our GBIs and the procurement of additional GBIs if it were determined that technological advancements with the SM-3 do not come to fruition in the planned timeframe?

Does modernization and sustainment of our GBIs and the development and testing of a two-stage GBI remain a priority for DOD?

You stated that the cost of buying and operating those additional aircraft would "invariably result in a reduction in critical warfighting capability somewhere else in the defense program."

Secretary Gates, in this audit, the SIGAR described a particular $404 million training contract where the government contracting personnel were located in Maryland and Pennsylvania--nine time zones away from where the work was actually…

Secretary Gates, does the Navy have enough Aegis Class Destroyers to support both MDA and Navy requirements?

I have been told that because the Air Force can no longer procure F-15E aircraft from the prime contractor, you elected to procure a fighter aircraft currently in production.

In December 2009, President Obama committed an additional 30,000 forces to Afghanistan for an extended surge of 18 months.

Is this cap driven by operational factors, budget concerns, or other policy considerations?

I remain concerned that Iraq will not have the training and equipment that it will need to maintain a credible defense after most of our forces leave later this year.

The responsible drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq continues forward as planned.

I think it's pretty obvious what the next step is in this effort to repeal DADT.

The Department is engaged in comprehensive communication efforts with the current workforce to ensure transparency and maintain trust.

Secretary Gates, when would the Final Operational Capability (FOC) for detention operations at Thomson be achieved?

When is the earliest date that military commission trials be held at Thomson under this plan?

Secretary Gates, what is the estimated amount to try all the detainee cases the DOJ believes can be tried, which I understand is about 35 total cases, in GTMO?

Secretary Gates, to what extent will the verification, validation, and accreditation (VV&A) of labs and models as test venues be event-driven, subject to disciplined oversight by the government and independent review?

Secretary Gates, looking ahead to 2010, exactly what milestones does the Director, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (DCAPE) believe the JPO and prime contractor must complete on time and on budget to achieve stated IOC dates?