Joe Lieberman

You have to get away from the idea of measuring presence to measuring outcome.

I think it might help to define 'replacement' and assure us, and those working with you, that this kind of replacement is on equal footing with 'reuse and refurbishment.'

One of the reasons for this provision is that the administration noticed that the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) Program had been canceled by Congress.

The NPR stipulates that, in considering life-extension programs, that the full range will be considered and studied, from refurbishment, to reuse, to replacement.

I was surprised by that, because I think the overall goal is, what you've said and we all agree with, that we wanted to maintain a safe, secure, and effective nuclear stockpile.

This is a reassurance to our allies.

It does seem to me that this provision in the NPR takes the previous calculated ambiguity, removes a lot of the ambiguity, but, frankly, then restores some of the ambiguity.

Throughout his tenure on the court he has demonstrated a surpassing commitment to thoughtful, hardworking rulings upholding the rule of law.

I am proud to be here to support the nomination.

Senator Collins and I are quite serious about this review, and we are not intent on legislating unless there is a reason to legislate.

I want to welcome our witnesses here today, each of whom has a critical role to play in helping ensure that this type of failure does not happen again.

I agree with you, Senator McCaskill, in your criticisms of the process. We have made mistakes. We are going to fix them.

I think you are correct, very correct, Senator Kaufman. We are behind, and I think we are addressing that in two ways.

What they're aimed at accomplishing is changing the calculus of a country like Iran, so they see there are more cost and fewer benefits to pursuing a nuclear weapons program.

I think what anyone is talking about is, if it becomes necessary to use military force to stop the unacceptable, which is an Iranian nuclear program.

In the end, the one sure way for Iran to not go nuclear is for its people and government to decide not to go nuclear.

So, when the Iranians, the leadership, the fanatical leadership, chant death to America, it's actually something they've already tragically made happen.

If the sanctions do not work, then we have to be prepared to use military force to stop the unacceptable from happening, which is that Iran become a nuclear power.

Thanks to you and Senator McCain for convening this very important hearing.

I agree totally on the last point that all the steps that are occurring now... will be decimated if Iran goes nuclear.

It is unacceptable to us in terms of our security and our values that Iran obtain nuclear weapons.

It's really a remarkable combination of capabilities for the individual soldier.

But allow us to mature them in the hands of soldiers and find out if they are or not.

I'm proud to say that I believe it was this subcommittee that brought the program back from the dead.

That's a really interesting answer because in a way it's a variant on Secretary Gates' 80 percent solution.