I think we have to step back a moment and remind ourselves that the sequester was designed to be stupid.

On the National Guard side they are going to be gaining Black Hawks, is that correct?

You have just made the point, I think, that the Assad regime is almost wholly dependent, is it not, on the support of Russia and Iran?

I think it's time that Congress acted.

But, do we have any analysis of why people are joining these organizations, why young people are joining them, why they are getting people?

How do we get it through to Maliki that he has to stop suppressing the Sunnis or he, in fact, is creating an al Qaeda opportunity in places like Fallujah?

I want some larger thinking than just military drone strikes and other options of that nature.

How long does it take to bring a Guard unit up to combat readiness?

We're very proud of that shipyard and proud of the work that they are doing.

I would suggest, gentlemen, that we all need to collectively be thinking about this, because if you kill one, and two come back, that's an endless task.

I don't understand. Can you make the argument to me why a National Guard unit needs Apache helicopters?

I want to associate myself with the comments of Senator McCain.

Perhaps we should develop a deterrent concept with regard to cyber, 'If you mess with our networks, your lights will go off,'

But the basic idea is that the Guard would like to maintain and have its hand in this piece of the combat readiness.

I think the next Pearl Harbor is going to be cyber, and I certainly hope that we're going to be prepared, better prepared, than we were in 1941.

I want to associate myself with your request for the data on the backlog. That is really important, and don't sugarcoat it.

Are you suggesting our healthcare system in this country is screwed up?

It is truly. It is, and it is quite disturbing that veterans, more or less, have to go around and shop for a doctor specialized in this care.

I don't believe the VA has the ability to move three moves ahead or to see that where the need is coming until they have the problem.

I think that is something we need to be thinking about that is not like they can turn around and to go to TRICARE and use their local provider.

I don't understand why anybody would go to you for counseling if they understand that that record of that counseling can be made available in a later proceeding.

I suspect you would agree that this is something the VA should be gearing up for in a very serious way.

The VA isn't within the purview of this committee, but clearly, it is a continuum of concern that we have about our military people, whether they are in Service or veterans.

Lebanon is at a crossroads.

The challenge of forming a government among competing factions with Cabinet ministries in a sufficient ratio to receive parliamentary approval is very, very difficult.