Leon Panetta: “The Department agrees that it is essential for national defense that the United States maintains organic depot…”

Well, it should not have happened. I don’t care what excuses you want to use, it should not have happened.

And ... we’re going to have to respond. And right now, because our missile systems and our supply of weapons being down, this is a vulnerable period for the United States.

It is inexcusable not to do the proper planning that has to be done in order to make sure that their deployment is not overextended, that they’re getting the supplies they need, that they’re getting the support they need.

That’s too long, and it should have been brought back sooner.