It's unconscionable. This is a military officer whose nomination... is being held up by one Senator, for unrelated purposes.

The long anticipated 2009 QDR Report was also submitted on Monday with the Department's fiscal year 2011 budget submission.

I hope it is--the sooner the better, as far as I'm concerned.

Secretary Miller, is DOD still planning to meet the President's 2015 schedule for Phase II?

There have been some concerns expressed by critics that the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) constrains our BMD program.

Phase 1 of the European PAA includes the planned deployment in the 2011 timeframe of a forward-deployed AN/TPY-2 radar in southeastern Europe.

This statement of yours in my judgment was a profile in leadership this morning.

Do you both support the 30,000 troop surge, and do you also support the setting of that July 2011 date by the President?

I believe ending the policy would improve our military's capability and reflect our commitment to equal opportunity.

Senator Levin supported it. We required a bid. We passed a law that said this will be bid.

Supporters of this policy argue that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would damage unit cohesion and morale, crucial factors in building combat effectiveness.

Does this rotational deployment to Poland have an impact on our planning and force management for possible contingency deployment of Patriot capabilities elsewhere?

The budget request continues the defense reforms begun last year to rebalance the force toward the military capabilities necessary to prevail in today's conflicts.

Senator McCain agrees with me. He will be joining me in my unanimous consent request.

For years I have been asking if the missile defense test plan included dedicated operational tests, and the answer has always been: No.

I'm glad, and I know that Senator McCain raised this point very strongly and feels very strongly.

We should end this discriminatory policy because ending it will contribute to our military's effectiveness.

Before new capabilities are deployed, they must undergo testing that enables assessment under realistic operational conditions.

The old system could have been overwhelmed with just 5 Iranian missiles or more.

The fiscal year 2011 budget request for the Department of Defense includes $549 billion for the base budget and $159 billion for the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Much depends on the ability and willingness of the Iraqis themselves to preserve hard-fought gains.

isn't it true that the currently deployed GMD system has the ability to defend the United States from a potential future Iranian long-range missile threat?

Is it correct that DOD needs this Aegis Ashore Test Facility authorized now, in order to permit the testing that is needed to maintain the President's schedule for Phase II of the PAA to missile defense in Europe in the 2015 timeframe?

the decision of the President to set that July 2011 date to begin to reduce the presence of American forces

This is, and the report is explicit, a wartime QDR.