Carl Levin

Yes. Sharing missile tracking data would not necessarily reveal capabilities of, or vulnerabilities to, the system.

Yes, sharing missile track information with Russia would improve our ability to defeat North Korean ballistic missiles.

Yes, sharing missile track information has the potential to enhance both United States and Russian ability to defeat projected Middle Eastern threat ballistic missiles.

General O'Reilly, you have indicated previously that Russian radar data would be useful in enhancing our missile defense capability relative to Iran.

I understand you have had an opportunity to explain to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-Russia Council why our missile defense systems planned for Europe can't threaten Russia's nuclear deterrent missile force.

NATO and Russia working together on missile defense would send a strong signal to regional actors that ballistic missile proliferation will not go unchallenged.

Cooperation with Russia on missile defense has long been a priority for both Republican and Democratic administrations.

Secretary Panetta announced in January that DOD will withdraw two of the four Army BCTs currently stationed in Europe.

This transition is to be completed by 2014, when the ASF will have assumed the security lead throughout the country.

The conflict in Afghanistan remains our military's foremost security challenge.

The drawdown of the 33,000 U.S. surge force is scheduled to be completed by the end of this summer.

The success of transition will depend in large part on the success of the international coalition in training and supporting the Afghan security forces through 2014.

The Strategic Guidance that the Department of Defense (DOD) issued in January reaffirmed that Europe is 'our principal partner in seeking global and economic security' for now and the foreseeable future.

The role of ISAF is transitioning from being in the combat lead to assuming a support, advise, and assist role as Afghan security forces step forward and assume the lead for security.

This morning's hearing continues the committee's review of the fiscal year 2013 defense budget request and the Future Years Defense Program.

The administration has called for renewed attention on the Pacific region and the emerging threats there.

To what extent do you believe opportunities exist to better focus the requirements for equipment reset?

I hope all of us will take a look at the proposals in the budget in front of us to raise an additional $3 trillion for deficit reduction.

There is additional $3 trillion in deficit reduction above the trillion that has already been taken.

The Senate approved the Budget Control Act on a bipartisan basis with 74 Senators voting for it.

This year's request includes $525 billion for the base budget and $88.4 billion for overseas contingency operations (OCO).

We need a heck of a lot more of them.

We are working on a new set of limits for synthetic credit and the current CS01 will be replaced by something more sensible and granular.

One of the keys to success in Afghanistan is building the size and capacity of the Afghan Security Forces.

We really feel that this is a very good investment of dollars, and it is a heck of a lot better than having a larger number of American troops there.