John McCain

Now more than ever, a strong Navy is central to our Nation's ability to deter adversaries, assure allies, and defend our national interests.

You characterized the current conflict with ISIL in Iraq and Syria as a 'stalemate.' You said that neither side is winning.

Are the ends, ways and means of this strategy aligned to achieve the goal of degrading and destroying ISIL in a duration of time that does not pose unacceptable levels of risk to U.S. national security interests?

Does the Constitution in your view authorize the President to act contrary to the law?

To date, our strategy is not succeeding.

After more than 2 million--billion dollars in cost growth of the first three Ford-class carriers, what--it's an example, and a glaring example, of cost overruns and schedules delays.

We should be more aggressive in this area, to include sharing information about their illegal and destabilizing activities.

Do you believe that the United States is doing enough to counter Iran's malign influence in Iraq, Syria, and the region at large?

For us to say we're doing what we need to do, I think, frankly, is not in keeping with the appreciation we should have for the sacrifice that those brave young people made.

I believe Iran causes problems in Bahrain, and Iranian adventurism will continue to find footholds there and elsewhere so long as there is an audience predisposed to receive it.

I'm not sure my colleagues on both sides of the Capitol understand the consequences, not only for our ability to defend the Nation.

The Iraqis cannot do it themselves. That's why they're losing.

We cannot execute the 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review with the budget cuts as a result of the Budget Control Act.

Do you agree to provide documents, including copies of electronic forms of communications, in a timely manner when requested by a duly-constituted committee?

Do you agree, if confirmed, to appear and testify, upon request, before this committee?

Will those witnesses be protected from reprisal for their testimony or briefings?

Even Sweden, which is traditionally, as we know, a very neutral nation, has become extremely concerned about Russian activity in their territorial waters.

We need to pay a lot more attention to it.

Russia is our greatest national security threat.

I am in favor of a conditions-based plan.

I think under conditions, both on military bases and in out-stations, recruiting stations, Reserve centers, that we should seriously consider it.

Unless Washington wakes up to the damage being done to our military right now by drastic reductions in defense spending, the Army will be forced to carry out its mission with fewer dollars, fewer soldiers, and aging equipment.

Will you ensure your staff complies with deadlines established for requested communications, including questions for the record in hearings?

Do you agree, when asked, to give your personal views, even if those views differ from the administration in power?

I believe that TRANSCOM has put some things in place to make that less likely.