I think if they do not stop, our credibility with them and a lot of others in the region, if not the world, is going to go down if we do not do something about it.

They deserve no less than our steadfast commitment to achieving the goals that we have set out in our report.

None of us want to have more conflict, but we are not asking for it by our behavior.

Admiral Winnefeld, Joint Task Force (JTF)-North is the sole Department of Defense (DOD) organization tasked to support the Nation's Federal law enforcement agencies in the identification and interdiction of suspected transnational threats.

I wish I could say that as you look at the U.S. Congress. I cannot quite say that at this moment, but they can look at the military.

I think the cumulative effect is that you are really a very impressive group.

I am really grateful for the opportunity to appear before you now, not from my customary seat, in order to introduce Dr. Ash Carter.

I am shocked and disappointed by what this report reveals about the failure of the Department of Defense to come to grips with violent Islamist extremism and the danger it presents to our troops.

If anything, over the last 2 years I think Ash Carter has strengthened his case, the case for him to assume at this particular time this extraordinary position.

Is it fair to say that if you are confirmed as Secretary of Defense, that the goal that you see is to turn responsibility for security of Afghanistan over to the Afghans at the end of 2014 and not to jeopardize our capacity to do that…

I, too, have felt that the no-fly zone ought to be under active consideration, premised on a request from the opposition.

I think the Asia-Pacific remains the strategic center of gravity for the 21st century.

As long as we have those soldiers there, we're going to do whatever we have to do to protect them.

I will ensure that I give forthright and prompt advice to the chain of command.

I hope they do, because I think it's necessary to protect all that we've given there to achieve what has been achieved.

If we don't show that we recognize that the Nation has a significant economic problem and then do our part, whatever that part may be, to help solve it, we will be seen as simply putting up barriers and defending ourselves against what…

It was on whether or not the Fort Hood shootings could have been prevented.

As Admiral Mullen said a while ago, our national debt has become a national security problem, and, therefore, we have to work together to cut it down.

As President Obama has said, all options have to remain on the table.

All of us are haunted by the phrase 'hollow Army'. We don't want to go through that again.

The third leg of the stool is we have an All-Volunteer Force with whom we must keep faith.

To me, it is, after all is said and done, the first responsibility of our National Government, which is to protect our security.

Our fathers must have come out of the same cloth, which is to value the freedom that America provides is our unique and distinguishing contribution to governance, but to understand that without security, there is no freedom.

I am unconvinced. I am going to call them all of those things because I think that is what they are.

I appreciate that. That's a very balanced answer and I think you have your anxieties well in control.