Dick Lugar

We especially thank Ambassador Holbrooke and Minister Miliband.

exactly the points that Senator Lugar was making a moment ago.

Well, does the relative weakness of the present Yemeni Government, as exemplified by these reports, increase the likelihood that it might be willing to consider some reconciliation with al-Qaeda?

The U.S. Government... is calling on both parties to declare a cease-fire and return to negotiations.

I think that history has shown quite clearly that we benefit by investing in the government that is there, and advancing our interests in that regard, rather than watching by as we have another failed state and then have to pick up the…

The resolution also emphasized the need to address Yemen's severe underdevelopment and to promote good governance, without which stability in that country will be elusive.

The purpose of the resolution was to raise awareness about the problems Yemen faces, including the threat from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

the point that Senator Kerry and the majority staff have made about Americans allegedly going to Yemen to engage with such radical figures is an important part of the larger situation that exists there, which poses a direct threat to…

We remain wary of attempts to use the fight against terrorism to repress political opposition.

I appreciate your thoughts, Ambassador Bodine, initially about USAID and the possibilities for much more of a development-oriented strategy on our part, because, as you mentioned, Yemen is running out of water.

militant extremists in Yemen are able to operate in what Senator Lugar called the 'ungoverned territories' there

Who will be the participants? Who will participate in London? What can we hope will become of that? Is this a sort of a new phase, as you suggest, of interest by the rest of the world in this?

Last year, I was pleased to cosponsor with Senator Cardin, Senate Resolution 341, which passed by unanimous consent in early December.

Whenever there's a nexus of nuclear materiel and corruption, the potential for this materiel to end up in the hands of the wrong people increases.

Due to courageous leadership in countries like Kazakhstan, as well as here in the United States by visionaries like Senators Richard Lugar and Sam Nunn, the threat of nuclear materiel falling into the hands of terrorists was diminished.

Tajikistan could become a failed state.

Unsecure nuclear weapons and fissile materiel should be a top priority of our policy.

it is a lot cheaper to maintain a certain number of Afghan forces than it is to maintain the number of United States and coalition forces required to compensate for their absence.

I think that it's critical that we do both as we work in the coming months and years.

There will come an inevitable moment in this fight where our partners in Pakistan must take up the fight with an equal vigor.

We need to make clear to the people of Pakistan that we will be full partners in their fight against extremist elements.

I believe that other strategic questions... are the crucial determinants of success, not the numbers of troops.

Our troops are defending the right of Afghanistan to develop its own government.

I appreciate the innovation and dedication that our witnesses have displayed in the past, and their willingness to take on extremely difficult missions.

Thank you very much, sir.