John McCain

We can do it with, hopefully, a minimal loss of life, even to our enemies.

The question now is whether or not we are going to deploy a system, which we take steps to assure will work.

The decision to develop and deploy a national missile defense against strategic missiles has been made.

I have unhesitatingly given my support to this courageous President throughout this controversy for many months.

I truly believe that in many respects North Korea presents the more immediate and maybe in some respects the greater threat at the moment.

I believe the best course of action--and I have offered this as a construct for negotiation--is to use what I have referred to as the simultaneous model of engagement.

I would prefer multilateral talks, but I do not think we can wait for partners who do not seem to be coming to join us.

In this day and age, on these issues, with the emerging nexus between suicide terror groups and weapons of mass destruction, it is the height of irresponsibility to make fundamental policy decisions based on what Paris, Bonn, Moscow, or…

In passing H.J. Res. 114, Congress specifically authorized the President to 'use the Armed Forces of the United States in order to--(1) defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and (2)…

I hope we do not spend too much time today arguing again about who constitutes the greatest threat to us right this second.

The MV-22 remains our number one aviation acquisition priority.

I continue to be troubled by your Service's push to lease 100 KC-767 tankers under terms that are clearly a disservice to the taxpayers of this country.

General Jumper, attempts in the past to artificially keep two defense companies in a particular sector of the defense market for the sake of competition has not produced competition at all.

How have you been able to do this without leasing?

I am impressed that you have been able to accelerate development and construction of Littoral Combat Ships in this year's budget.

I was surprised to learn that the Navy has elected not to include the Cockpit Air Bag System (CABS)...

I have two concerns here. First, today's Navy routinely operates in littoral waters increasingly populated by a very capable diesel submarine threat, yet we are doing away with a class of ships designed to counter that threat.

General Shinseki, I noted that the Army intends to invest nearly $700 million over the next 6 years to modernize key training ranges.

The significant number of Reserve personnel activated since September 11 clearly validates your comments.

General Jumper, there have been reports in the press regarding an Air Force policy which authorizes Air Force pilots to take amphetamines called 'go pills' as a 'fatigue-management tool.'

What time line are we looking at for OSD's desired bureaucratic reforms to actually have an impact on the battlefield for our warfighters?

What has happened to transformation?

My staff was recently briefed on the implementation of the Call to Service Plan, which Senator Bayh and I were successful in including in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003.

Last year, I supported a legislative proposal with my friend Senator Max Cleland, which called for an increase in end strength based on your personnel requirements.

The Army reported to the committee that they may need 42,000 to 43,000 additional soldiers, the Air Force 22,000 to 30,000 additional airmen, the Navy 10,000 additional sailors, and the Marine Corps an additional 5,000 marines.