Ben Nelson: “I must say, Secretary Roche, what you said today was as close to outrage as I've heard.”

Let me add my thoughts. We ask you to reduce budgets, to watch the growth, and then when you come before us after you've done it, then we question why you've done it and whether you've done it right or not.

These programs are central to our national security. They deserve full, bipartisan support.

We cannot just be catching up or trying to stay at par with the rest of the world or otherwise our defenses are down.

Our troops' force protection has to be among the highest priorities, together with protecting the Homeland.