Bill Nelson: “With all the things that the Senator has outlined, which are certainly true--the lack of equipment; the wearing out of…”

“With all the things that the Senator has outlined, which are certainly true--the lack of equipment; the wearing out of equipment; the fact that some of our troops went into Iraq and did not have the proper equipment, even body armor; the fact that, as the Senator has stated, the recruitment goals are not being met; the fact that more and more of the load is being put on the Reserves and the National Guard, which is taking particularly the National Guard away from its initial responsibility with regard to the States--my question to the Senator would be, since these two Senators were quite impressed with the candor of Dr. Gates, is he going to be able to make a difference in his advice to the President? Will the President listen?”