That means, in my view, first of all, repealing this mindless sequestration.

I believe that the President, you know, paid close attention. His trip out to the CIA, I think, was symbolic in a lot of ways of his confidence in the CIA and the intelligence agencies.

Of course. Of course. I mean, does anybody believe now that Bashar Assad is going to willingly lead power?

Look, this guy is a war criminal. He used aircraft with precision weapons to strike hospitals in Aleppo intentionally slaughtering innocent men, women and children. That's -- that's disgraceful.

No. No. I don't get it.

I would be deeply disturbed if such a thing were happened. Let me just give you an example. They have been bombing and striking the moderate opposition people that we armed and trained, meanwhile ISIS retakes Palmyra and they don't do…

I obviously have seen no evidence of illegally voting but my focus has been on national security, getting General Mattis in as Secretary of Defense, working with Pompeo, working -- doing those issues in our national security.

That should disturb all of us.

Thank you, Chairman McCain, Ranking Member Reed, distinguished members of the committee, thank you for this invitation to appear before you today to discuss the defense budget for fiscal year 2018 and beyond.

I do not believe that most observers would agree that America is 21 percent safer.

The world order that America has led for seven decades, which has benefited our people most of all, is now under unprecedented strain.