If you put on a pair of Russian shoes and look at it from their perspective, their concern is that there's more to this than that, perhaps.

We think it gives us great added depth to our homeland defense capability.

I believe these are all important elements of a sound missile defense policy.

I wanted to ask you, as you sort of prepare to retire, whether you believe we should continue to develop and test the two-stage GBI, for instance, as a hedge against a possible Iranian breakout.

In addition, then, we will have two smaller forces that will be predominantly the command and control, the logistics, the joint reception, and some immediate lifesaving capability in those two smaller forces.

I think we were paying too little attention to this critically important continent.

I think this is a very good budget. Obviously, we'll go over it in a series of subject matter hearings, but I think it meets the needs of our military within the resources that we have.

Gains in Iraq remain fragile and reversible, but increasingly less so.

I have serious concerns about the impact of the repeal of the law on a force that's fully engaged in two wars.

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I think your suggestion is really an excellent one.

do you think the Services should issue a similar type of pamphlet with the same kinds of recommendations to address the threat of violent Islamist extremism, because that is the reality.

DOD's approach to the threat of servicemembers who adopt a violent Islamist extremist ideology needs to be revised.

I think that a more focused approach, an open approach on Islamist extremism, will protect the overwhelming majority of Muslim Americans serving in the military.

It was also a terrorist attack in my opinion.

I think that's an excellent suggestion.

I think the more explicit we are about it the clearer it's going to be and the better off we're going to be.

The attack of November 5, 2009, was a tragedy and we're very grateful for the efforts that you've made.

I think it's also critically important... that we recognize the specific threats posed by violent Islamist extremism to our military.

What Senator Lieberman and I have suggested in our letter to Secretary Gates is that same kind of focus, squarely admitting what the problem is.

You do hold people accountable, as is appropriate, and you go on with the aim of securing the country.

the urgency on terrorism has been too low, and we have to reject complacency.

Give us an explanation of that in plain language. In other words, what did not happen with Abdulmutallab which would happen now under the change?

We are in a world war with the Islamist extremist terrorists who attacked us on September 11, 2001.