we are trying to make the best out of a very bad situation, and while we are trying to do that, the clock is ticking toward a nuclear Iran.

The vote against the President's budget was unanimous, 97 to nothing for 2012 fiscal year.

I think the market makes a better decisionmaking process than the government based on the record.

This plan is a billion more than last year, this budget. I just don't see the possibility given our current fiscal situation of being able to fund everything that you've requested.

To this point, the sanctions have not caused that calculus to change, apparently.

I don't see any public acknowledgement that China, India, some of the fast-growing Asian nations, have joined us in supporting rejecting any kind of export.

It clearly, I think, reaches the level of perhaps the number one challenge of 2012.

It's very difficult to ratchet those up and tighten them to the point where we see a decided change in the Iranian supreme leadership decisions.

The clock is ticking on the side of the Iranian pursuit of nuclearization and perhaps weaponization of nuclear capability.

We judge Iran's nuclear decision-making is guided by a cost-benefit approach.

You state in your comments here that these difficult and fundamental fiscal choices cannot be safely or responsibly postponed. I assume you stand by that?