This administration is firmly committed to meeting these core objectives in Afghanistan.

U.S., coalition, and Afghan forces are working shohna ba shohna, or 'shoulder-to-shoulder,' reversing the Taliban's momentum.

By the end of 2014, the transition of security leadership will be complete, and Afghans will be fully responsible for the security of Afghanistan.

Our soldiers deserve our support and they have it.

The United States' objectives in Afghanistan remains to deny safe havens to al Qaeda, and to deny the Taliban the ability to overthrow the Afghan Government.

we should not consider a new round of BRAC until we have addressed the excess capacity overseas.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

We need a heck of a lot more of them.

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

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

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.

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

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 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.