John Warner: “Clearly, in your testimony today and that of General Petraeus, each of you have distanced yourself from the plan, as…”

Judging from my own experience, these four resumes constitute an extraordinary body of knowledge needed in these respective positions and needed by our country at a critical time.

I think that's a really significant answer since the question of readiness clearly one of the most strategically important issues you have to deal with.

It is a moving experience for me to reenter this room. I served on this committee for 30 years.

Good luck to each and every one of you, and to the importance of the confirmation process.