Bill Nelson

It is hard to register, hard to vote, hard to count votes. All the difficulties are clear and navigating through these difficult areas is not always that easy.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

One disenfranchised service member is one too many but, when two out of three ballots are not counted for whatever reason, we have got a serious problem on our hands.

I am mightily impressed. And as the Director-designate indicated yesterday, so much of the success of his agency will be in human intelligence.

Secretary Gates, you have publicly stated that a new Afghanistan strategy is a high priority for the Obama administration.

There is significant national security value in establishing an additional east coast CVN support base

How will Special Representative Richard Holbrooke's new mandate coincide with that of General Petraeus?

Secretary Gates, please provide plans, which Congress can consider, that would eliminate this offset over time.

Under current law, if the surviving spouse of a servicemember is eligible for Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), that annuity is offset by the amount of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) received.

Has President Obama explicitly endorsed the Pentagon's plan to send up to 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan?

It is important to brief any and all such operations to the full membership of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Secretary Gates, please describe the risks to the Nation should implementation of the Navy's decision be delayed.

The Navy has expressed the importance of strategic dispersal of capital ships like aircraft carriers

I just want you to know how much I appreciate your public service to our country.

Above surface and permanent structures are incompatible with military training

I do believe, however, that we will need to ensure that we strike the proper balance between our Nation's energy and national security goals.

If confirmed, I intend to conduct a review of the Air Force's existing agreements with the housing privatization developers.

I believe that maintaining and enhancing installation infrastructure to carry out the Air Force mission in the most efficient and cost-effective manner should always be a priority.

If confirmed, I intend to undertake a review of the Army and Navy housing privatization procedures and take full advantage of best practices.

For the future threat of an Iranian missile with a nuclear warhead against Europe, that, in the foreseeable future, our Standard Missile-3, and on ships placed in the Mediterranean, the Aegis system, and then upgraded over time, could take…

I think we're going to have to perfect this role, wherever we are projecting United States force in the future.

What do you think is the growing influence of China in South America?

I personally think that President Rene Preval is really trying. What faces him is...so much corruption.

I do not see, from my study, that there is a military threat from that influence.

The President, Secretary Clinton, Secretary Gates, and National Security Advisor General Jim Jones have all commented positively about the prospects of the United States and Russia working on a common missile defense.