Joe Lieberman

The facts and analysis simply do not support the case for adding an alternate engine program.

I hope to do the same with you.

I would look forward to working with you to make sure that the balance between our law enforcement needs and our border security needs are appropriately weighed against the relevant privacy interests.

I congratulate your parents on producing such an admirable son.

I hope, as you begin your review, that when you see areas particularly related to cyber security where you think the Department needs additional statutory authority, you will feel comfortable in working with the Committee on that.

I want to thank you, Mr. Manning, as we consider your nomination to be Deputy Administrator for FEMA in charge of National Preparedness.

Luck comes to those who work hard for it.

I think the quality of the nominees has really been very high, and that is certainly true of these two.

Let me ask you to bring all that and all your experience to bear on the current H1N1 flu crisis.

As Senator Bingaman said in introducing you, you have served in a number of positions directly relevant to national preparedness.

We are a global power, and we have global interests, and that means we have global vulnerabilities.

The fight we're in is irregular, it's a hybrid, we can't do everything.

I think we're sacrificing operational capability for acquisition efficiency.

I agree. I think, too, probably one of the more prominent conclusions today, and I think you made the case well, is the role of the long-range strike forces in irregular warfare, larger than most people would intuitively think.

That's very interesting. I invite you to give us more detailed information afterward.

If you were writing the defense budget for next year, understanding that you disagree with the recommendations of Secretary Gates, what would you put in for the long-range strike systems for the bombers?

I must say that, in a general sense, I can only applaud what he's trying to do.

I think we're looking further downstream into the future, at emerging threats.

My basic feeling is that this country, because of its global responsibilities, does need a credible capability to hold targets at risk anywhere on the globe.

I think you framed the questions very well.

It's been a very helpful hearing, from the subcommittee's point of view.

These investments in systems like the F-22, in my view, are investments in deterrents.

I do think there's a major part of it, that there was a budget ceiling that people had to live within.

That's what, in our world, we tend to call straight talk.

To make an irrevocable decision which does not rest on any known analysis appears to me to be imprudent.