John McCain

General Cartwright, is the plan to draw down troops in Europe outdated, given the ongoing war in Iraq and other world developments?

The Department is on track in its planning for rebasing, even considering restationing 70,000 troops and their families from Europe and Korea to the United States.

The rebasing initiatives are on track. The scope of restationing 70,000 troops and their families from Europe and Korea, Joint Basing, growing the force, and the redeployment of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan is momentous.

General Cartwright, there has been a good deal of skepticism regarding the Pentagon's planning for the 'perfect storm' caused by the culmination of rebasing initiatives.

DOD has explored options to mitigate the UHF availability gap until full fielding of MUOS.

MUOS will provide a 10-fold increase in capacity over UHF follow-on, providing UHF mobile communications for our tactical users.

I've always believed that we all want our troops to come home, as soon as possible, but the difference between us are those who want to do so on a timetable--without regard to conditions and consequences.

We ought not leave Iraq without the ability to sustain and defend itself, not just because of what it would mean to our allies, but what it would mean to us, in terms of a failed State in Iraq.

I worry about a mandated timetable. I worry about mandating to any commander on the ground. Because it severely constrains an operational, or a tactical, commander.

Withdrawing before there is a stable and legitimate Iraqi authority would turn Iraq into a failed state and a terrorist sanctuary.

If confirmed, they will be installed during one of the most challenging times in our Nation's national security history.

I believe these risks are manageable, and that various measures--the provision of advisors and tracking of weapons--can be adopted to ensure compliance.

I have confidence in General Petraeus and his field commanders.

If I could inject here, Senator Levin, now the chairman of the committee--I was then chairman--and I visited that province.

I was not involved in the policy, but I would like to say that you're absolutely correct that the turnaround with the Sunnis represents one of the most dramatic changes in Iraq in the last 12 months.

The importance of the United States Special Operations Command and the pivotal role our Special Operations Forces play in national defense cannot be overstated.

Our Nation is indebted to these highly trained and dedicated special operators who have to undergo such rigorous training to prepare themselves for the duties they perform.

I consider the position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict to be one of the most important in the Department.

I think that Senator Reed has put his finger on a very decisive point here and I find it, with him, kind of astounding that that has been done.

I most recently, together with a number of other Senators, 52 to be exact, put a measure through the Senate.

I think one of the most important aspects of this assignment, if not the most important in my judgment, in addition to your credentials, is will you provide the President your own impartial, straightforward personal advice on a range of…

I, for one, feel ever so strongly, based on personal work with him over a period of several years, on his extensive biographical material, this officer is more than qualified to handle those positions.

This hearing is on whether or not this officer has the professional credentials to fulfill this assignment requested by the President of the United States.

Obviously, the attacks of September 11 were a massive intelligence failure.

I want to underscore the importance of the DOD IG's functions and urge you, if you are confirmed, to consider this appointment as a mandate to strengthen the independence and effectiveness of that office.