I have been so impressed by the kind of care that you have provided to troops coming back to Connecticut and elsewhere.

I agree completely, and I wonder if you could speak to the significance of the Ohio-class submarine replacement in terms of what its value is.

Thank you for your great work on this issue.

So you would say that the commitment of our military, our Defense Department, and our strategic planners is undiluted when it comes to the Ohio-class replacement.

When it strikes you as odd, I assume that 'odd'--and it is a very well chosen word--may be a euphemism for strange or unnecessary or invasive, unacceptable.

What I am concerned about in both Tunisia and Libya is the negative influence that the presence of violent extremist organizations (VEO) will have in those two countries.

Please provide the number and percentage of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel that do not reach the 20-years-of-service mark.

I'm very concerned about the impact on our active force and our National Guard.

I admire and respect the success of our marines and our soldiers in Afghanistan.

Thank you and the Marine Corps for that great work.

One key to revitalizing the aging C-130 fleet could be to replace the older four-bladed propellers with newer eight-bladed propellers.

Is that transition assistance skill training, counseling, expanding, and enhancing in the way that you have planned to do?

I think we may come forward if you'd be willing to consider it.

Is there any possibility that this funding could be restored?

I believe that going back to that program would be cost effective in the long run.

The Pakistanis have been of very little or insignificant help in interdicting the ammonium calcium nitrate fertilizer that flows across the border?

Just to finish with one quick question about the cooperation with Israel in the event of an attack on Iran's nuclear armaments or capabilities.

Would you agree that part of the defense against that attack and part of defining the criteria has to be deciding what the offense should be, what the deterrent should be?

Without putting you on the spot, could you express to us your view?

I want to focus, if I may, on an area that has greatly concerned me, the Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and the flow of material from Pakistan to Afghanistan.

Overall, I see the funding request for fiscal year 2013 for JIEDDO has been decreased by $540 million.

The SyNAPSE Program is really one of the most promising medical activities in the world today, I can say without too much exaggeration.

I want to join all of my colleagues in thanking both of you for your very distinguished and dedicated service.

We've been proud to support that sub base because it performs such an important mission.

So you would see a continued commitment to it?