John Warner

I think it's extremely important that we have that in the record.

the All-Volunteer Force is a national treasure.

I will never forget, on September 11, Chairman Levin and I went over to the Pentagon.

I anticipate that. Wouldn't you?

I want to bring one to your attention, because I, fortunately, with other members of the committee, have spent a lot of time here in these many years working on unmanned vehicles.

I would have welcomed the flexibility of having access to three more brigades if I remained there.

I think that puts in perspective my understanding.

I share your concern regarding our dealing with Russia, and there has been a recent shift in Russia's relationship.

I believe these nominees are excellent choices. I would like to further voice my unqualified support for their swift confirmation.

I urge you to look at the history of NATO, its success in curtailing the Cold War.

That's important. You're above other Services' average on retention now?

I hope that we can take some modest encouragement. But do you see any evidence that would lead you to the conclusion that in the near-term future, say the next 90 days, there's likely to be any actions taken by the Maliki Government on the…

Will you continue to take a look at that?

I think it's important.

But in the light of the lack of progress with this surge in the minds of many Members of Congress and the American public, and other deficiencies that the chairman and myself pointed out that we see as far as the execution of our policy…

the President report to Congress on July 15 with regard to the situation in that AOR, specifically Iraq.

If they fail to live up to their commitments--and I hope they do not--if they fail to meet the benchmarks of the initial phases of the Baghdad operation, are you prepared to come back to your superiors, indeed the President and the…

We definitely need to support this government.

I think you're going to have to tell those field commanders and others, from time to time, 'We don't have them.'

My concern is why do we need to put such a heavy emphasis of U.S. forces into Baghdad when we have trained 188,000 Iraqi military?

Again, Mr. Shinn--and I also address this to Mrs. Long because you have jurisdiction over NATO.

All four of those things need to go forward together.

This committee had a great deal to do with the establishment of the legislation which created the 55 Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support Teams.

I believe in the policy that I am implementing, Senator Warner. Did I not believe in it, I would have taken other actions, as you suggested.

Clearly, in your testimony today and that of General Petraeus, each of you have distanced yourself from the plan, as announced by the President on January 20.