Bill Nelson

Can you describe for the committee what kind of investments you think that are necessary at Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg in order to sustain and modernize these launch facilities so you could have operationally responsive space?

I want to ask you about--as we're trying to give the warfighter and the commander greater flexibility of getting up smaller satellites in operationally responsive space.

Does the success of that program continue to support the moratorium on nuclear weapons testing?

Let me ask you, what about, for example, this relationship with Russia, and Russia now having thrown up a blockade with regard to the opportunities for joint cooperation on such a thing as national missile defense.

If the Stockpile Stewardship Program can support a new replacement warhead, is there any doubt about its ability to support the Life Extension Program as well?

I wish we were still talking about Cecil, but we can't be talking about that any more.

What we want to know, and we believe--because we believe in you--Admiral, as the principle uniform military advisor to the President, how would you manage and present the full range of advice presented to you by members of the JCS as…

My judgment is that dispersion is still the situation. A nuclear carrier should be in Florida to replace the U.S.S. John F. Kennedy to get some dispersion.

Overcentralization of the carrier port structure is not a good strategic move. The Navy should have two carrier-capable homeports on each coast.

I enjoyed my visit privately with each one of you and would only reemphasize here in open session some of the things that I had discussed with you when we visited earlier.

What we want is the truth and we will look forward to receiving that from you.

Twenty percent unreliable, if those statements by this senior officer are correct. Then report back to us, why is it that they are unreliable?

You can understand the concern that we have when we ask over and over on a plan that is predicated on the reliability of the Iraqi forces, putting more of our men and women in Baghdad in a combat situation.

I have checked and I have it in writing that what I am about to state is unclassified.

Senator Graham, no one would say that General Shinseki was right because Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was not going to let them say that.

I suspect what you have just said is correct, that we do not have the ability to produce a lot more.

In the spirit of candor, you will come back to us and report on your measurement of whether or not they're reliable.

I believe we have to be cautious and careful in our approaches to this country.

I don't want to concentrate on just the number of Iraqi troops trained, but, rather, your assessment of how reliable they are.

Let me tell you about a conversation I had with our Ambassador Khalilzad and General Casey. They both said--this was back before Christmas--that they would not support a surge unless there is a specific plan for success, and the ambassador…

We were not told the truth about weapons of mass destruction, nor about troop strengths, nor about the cost of the war, nor about the sectarian violence.

I think that point of view is very important, Senator Collins, to get across, because the way the questions were framed before would cast some doubt on those of us who would support Senator Warner's resolution.

I have not been told the truth over and over again by administration witnesses. And the American people have not been told the truth.

I would rather see a sermon than hear one any day. That might be a lesson for all of us in public office to remember.

I am here with a big smile on my face, with an orange and blue tie, to recognize the signal accomplishment of the University of Florida Fighting Gators, and not only now with the national championship in football, but in the same season…