JOHN M. McHUGH: “No Federal obligation is more important than protecting national security.”

Ladies and gentlemen, our Army, your Army faces a dark and dangerous future unless this Congress acts now to end these ill-conceived and inflexible budget cuts.

We must be seen as a credible ally and a dangerous enemy.

We can do better by them. We feel that's our obligation and what this budget brings to the table.

Honestly, I wish I had better news to share, but today we find our Army at a very dangerous crossroads which, if we as a nation choose the wrong path, may severely damage our force.