Do you believe that the realities on the ground in Afghanistan necessitate growing the Afghan National Security Forces beyond the currently planned end strengths?

Clearly, the Great Lakes are being shortchanged.

Our European allies continue to provide the majority of the nearly 35,000 non-U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Will the Corps' value the benefit of reducing the risk and associated cost of lock failure as a result of a terrorist act, natural disaster, or mechanical failure?

Today, the committee considers a number of nominations for the Department of Defense.

Each of our nominees has a long history of public service.

The support that our military families provide is critical, and we want to do all that we can to support them.

Over $30 million has been allocated to the Soo Lock Replacement project over several years for engineering and design work as well as construction.

Will you commit to considering relevant homeland security concerns in the cost-benefit analysis when reviewing the Soo Locks Replacement project?

Until the minute you make our security forces self-sufficient. Then you will be welcome to visit us, not as soldiers, but as guests.

I joined with Senator Lieberman and 13 other Senators in a letter to the President to urge him to support, now, the increase in the end strength levels for the Afghan army and the police to the higher ranges.

We have heard different arguments or positions about why we can't move faster.

One of the most immediate challenges is implementing the President's new civil military strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

It doesn't make any sense to think people don't know how to write checks. Basically, if you know how to deposit, you should know how to withdraw.

You had not made a final decision.

It could be or should be?

It would appear to be a rating resulting from fear and not a rating based on the condition of the institution.

On July 31, we briefed Chairman Sheila Bair, and the result of which was we told her this is a composite 4 and why.

contractors and program offices have every reason to produce optimistic cost estimates and unrealistic performance expectations, because programs that promise revolutionary change and project lower costs are more likely to be approved and…

In your judgment, was the Iraqi government operation in Basra properly and carefully planned and were the preparations adequate?

Now, on October 4, 2007, Exhibit 46, you wrote the SEC.

For example--presumably of your decision on directional view--during most of 2007, we maintained a net short sub-prime position and therefore stood to benefit from declining prices in the mortgage market.

Underwriting guidelines established to mitigate the risk of unsound underwriting decisions are not always followed.

So the $250 million is only part of the Federal program.

I think that was at seven agencies. I misspoke.