Jim Inhofe

I blame Secretary Rumsfeld for that program on the Crusader.

I think it goes without saying that we cannot afford to continue to award contractors $1.2 billion on a weapon system such as the Army Ground Combat Vehicle only to, shortly afterwards, terminate the program.

I cannot think of two people I would rather have at the helm making those decisions than the two of you.

I also believe that each component has its own critical role in the total force.

The Air Force, like all the Services, is being forced to make difficult decisions on how to remain combat-ready while being as cost effective as possible.

We are forced to retire key assets, as the President said, such as the A-10, the Airborne Warning and Combat System (AWACS), the U-2, the Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS), the EC-130, and delay procurement of some…

I think we have to be a player in the world and that sends the wrong signal, I think, if we don't show up.

I want to have something that's better.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned that you and I have talked about is the Air Force requesting the funding to recapitalize joint North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) intelligence.

I wanted to give you a chance to explain it.

I think that the Air Force request divests the entire 283-aircraft A-10 fleet.

When we're talking about risk, we're talking about lives.

The threats to our national security are growing. The readiness and capability of our military are being degraded by drastic budget cuts.

This is certainly the most difficult time in the years that I have served in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Risk means lives and I think we all need to understand it. We do understand it.

I am very concerned that we are sacrificing too much capability at a time when we should be increasing our current structure and capabilities in these uncertain times.

If the Army goes to sequestration levels of 420,000 Active soldiers, the Army will not be able to implement the DSG.

These cuts come at a time where we're confronting a more dangerous and volatile world.

The Army will be able to execute the 2012 DSG at this size and component mix, but at significant risk.

We're poised to repeat this same mistake.

It is imperative that we act to prevent this outcome.

If sequestration were allowed to occur, the Army would begin to grow hollow within months.

If we do not have a legislative solution that provides our leaders with the time and the flexibility to shape our force for the future, we will create a hollow force, we will very quickly go to extremely low levels of reduction in the next…

The whole thing back during the Reagan administration was the deterrent that is offered by our strength, our force.

It would be very--in my opinion, it is doubtful that we'd be able to conduct one prolonged, sustained, multiphase campaign.