John McCain

DADT is a threat to our men and women in uniform and our national security.

The essence of military capability is good order and unit cohesion and that any practice which puts those goals at unacceptable risk can be restricted.

Our military is the best in the world. Once gay and lesbian servicemembers are allowed to serve openly, our military will still be the best in the world.

I believe that it has.

I want to make one thing perfectly clear upfront. I'm enormously proud of and thankful for every American who chooses to put on the uniform of our Nation and serve at this time of war.

We should end 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' and we can and should do it in a way that honors our Nation's values while making it more secure.

Ending this discriminatory policy will contribute to our military's effectiveness.

What steps, if any, have been taken to alleviate the shortage of key enabling forces, including rotary lift, in Afghanistan for SOF?

What is DOD's estimate of the funds required to meet this mandate in fiscal year 2011 and how will it be achieved?

Do civilian hospitals lose money every time they care for a TRICARE patient? If so, why?

Secretary Gates, to what extent will these labs and models not be used to close verification success criteria unless formally approved for that use?

I understand that the JSF program office is executing a comprehensive, robust, and fully funded live fire test plan.

Secretary Gates, do you expect that the delivery of those test and training assets will deviate from those plans? If so, please explain.

Will extending development of the JSF, as is being proposed under the budget request, be supported with additional flight test aircraft?

I hope you will pay attention to the views of over a thousand retired flag and general officers.

I'm deeply disappointed in your statement, Secretary Gates.

The question before us is not whether the military prepares to make this change, but how we best prepare for it.

Equality is an inalienable American right--and should not be ascribed based on gender or race, religion or sexual orientation or gender identity.

Many gay and lesbian Americans are serving admirably in our Armed Forces, even giving their lives so that we and others can know the blessings of peace.

I agree with what President Obama said in his State of the Union address, that we should repeal this discriminatory policy.

Has this policy been ideal? No, it has not, but it has been effective.

I hope you will come to a conclusion as to how enemy combatants should be treated as far as their trials are concerned

Do you agree that they should have been there?

Can you give us, either verbally or in writing, the delays and cost overruns that we now expect?

The Taliban have a growing influence in most of Afghanistan's provinces.