John McCain

One of the reasons why Republicans lost the last election is because our base, who are concerned about our stewardship of their tax dollars, believed that we got on a spending spree.

We just lost an election, and I will take the responsibility for that. One of the reasons why Republicans lost the last election is because the -- our base, who are concerned about our stewardship of their tax dollars, believed that we got…

The loss of volume, I am told, will result in a $7 billion loss in fiscal year 2009.

I am pleased to be joining the Subcommittee. I am grateful for the opportunity.

Secretary Gates, advances in battlefield care and MEDEVAC yielded the lowest mortality rate in history for U.S. Forces serving in Iraq.

Do you think that the Department and the individual Services have made adequate progress in making the best use of the professionals of the Reserve and Guard?

Secretary Gates, how about the National Guard and Army and Marine Corps Reserve? Are they sized correctly for the requirements being placed upon them?

Are you satisfied that the quality of new recruits coming into the Armed Forces--and the Army in particular--is satisfactory?

Are you committed to ensuring that the intent of Congress will be achieved when the Board finally begins its work this year?

Have you formulated a view on the best way forward in modernizing this antiquated system?

Apart from the war itself, this Department and I have no higher priority.

We have seen great improvements and recent testing success of a national missile defense system.

How do you view the agreement from a theater-wide strategic perspective?

Secretary Gates, what more can Congress do to assist the Services in restoring the readiness of major combat units?

Secretary Gates, do you have any unfunded requirements related to the reset that should be included in the pending economic recovery package?

I think we need to get rid of this artificial division in this global campaign against terrorists...

The 2006 QDR went a long way toward establishing the foundation for new approaches to address our most pressing challenges.

What is the F-22's relevance to the current or reasonably foreseeable threat environment, dominated by non-State actors and asymmetrical threats?

Secretary Gates, during the process of proposing areas for military funding to help stimulate the economy, did the Department consider investments in equipment and materials that would have a direct impact on the readiness of our forces as…

Secretary Gates, former President Bush signed an Executive order last year intended to reduce the number and cost of earmarks and make their origin and purpose transparent.

Over the past 2 weeks, my staff has repeatedly asked for a copy of the documents justifying the MILCON request with no response.

Secretary Gates, during the Cold War there existed a large group of researchers both inside and outside of the Department whose expertise was the Soviet Union.

Secretary Gates, what specific programs have you put in place to give field commanders understanding of the cultural environment in which they operate?

The capabilities needed to deal with [terrorist attacks] cannot be considered exotic distractions or temporary diversions.

If that person were transported to an overseas military installation located in an active theater of operations, the same concerns regarding habeas corpus review stated above would also apply.