John McCain

If confirmed, how do you intend to ensure the standard is followed by U.S. forces worldwide?

I'm very pleased to join Chairman Levin on this effort. But I also think that unfortunately, as you say, there are some, as I mentioned in my opening comments, such as FCS, JSF, and others that are already huge, big ticket items. I just…

I appreciate your support for the legislation that Chairman Levin introduced.

You would agree there's been a dramatic consolidation of major defense contractors.

The United States and our European allies have a shared interest in countering transnational terrorism.

This is unacceptable to me.

The carrier force structure, along with the entire battleforce, is being considered in the QDR.

The Navy has no current plans to retire an aircraft carrier upon delivery of USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).

The Navy remains committed to a force structure of 11 carriers and 10 air wings for the next several decades.

The more we understand technology risk early and manage that risk, the less likely that such risk will present themselves later in the acquisition process and blow out costs.

We cannot do everything, or function equally well across the spectrum of conflict. Ultimately, we must make choices.

Efforts in Afghanistan would benefit from greater contributions from our European allies.

What steps in your view need to be taken to eliminate the threat posed by Taliban and extremist militants hiding out across the Afghan-Pakistan border?

We must continue to stress to our allies the U.S. commitment to Afghanistan and the shared responsibility NATO has to secure and stabilize Afghanistan.

I support General McKiernan's request for additional U.S. troops in Afghanistan to improve security and serve as trainers.

I expect hard choices will have to be made in this QDR and the support of Congress will be necessary to be successful.

I support a substantial increase in mentors and trainers as they are critical to the ANA's development and accelerated expansion.

The contributions of our NATO allies are imperative to success in Afghanistan.

After a 30-year procurement history, costs and design are (or should be) stable and enough is (or should be) known, about technology risk associated with those programs so that the Navy should be contracting here on a fixed-price--not…

Breaking the narcotics-insurgency nexus is critical to overall success in Afghanistan.

Joining the Convention will give the United States a seat at the table when rights vital to our national interests are debated.

The current estimate for the costs to relocate the marines from Okinawa to Guam is at least $10 billion.

The F-22A Raptor program, an increasingly expensive program that has made no contribution to the global war on terror

Business as usual [in terms of the Department's budget decisions] is no longer an option.

No, I believe these are effective initiatives and I will support them.