Senator Kerry made what I think was a historically significant intervention in the process.

President Karzai is the legitimately reelected President of the country.

the Kerry-Lugar bill was specifically designed to give the civilian government more resources on the civilian side.

the patience of the American people is not unlimited for our engagement and we need to see progress.

I appreciate the attention to this that you've brought, and I want to commend Secretary Clinton.

I wanted to get your sense or your assessment really of President Karzai's government.

I want to thank the nominee for his willingness to serve the public again.

I certainly do not have any reason to contradict it.

Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. And thanks for calling this hearing at this time.

What can you tell us about that report?

Part of the question would be, both statutory authority plus resources.

Part of the challenge here is working with the Yemeni Government, not only on that priority, but as well on development.

So, if we could expand rail access, improve road access, expand bridges and other infrastructure, that would be of great assistance in moving our supplies more effectively to Afghanistan.

I think it's important, especially as we're coming to the end of a new administration, that we try to do everything we can to get this right.

the ancillary economic benefits for Central Asia, bringing together the economies of Central Asia, not just with each other, but also with their neighbors in a broader world

I want to get one question in to Ambassador Krol, before I wrap up, on nonproliferation.

we need to get the pricetag, here, to be part of the equation so we understand what we're spending in our security context.

after $13 billion, we are basically starting from scratch as it relates to development efforts, which is pretty alarming.

I can't tell the people of New Jersey, or this country, that we are doing that clearly on aspirations.

I'd like to see us condition their travel and their bank accounts to make sure that we're not going to see the continued corruption.

This is a firm commitment by the President of the United States, agreed by the major foreign policy strategic planners in our government, that in July 2011 we're going to start drawing down troops.

you've got to fight the Taliban before you get to the point of reconciliation.

I think the No. 1 problem here--there's a lot of problems, so--you know, I don't minimize any--but, the No. 1 problem is, Do we have a partner, in the Afghan Government, for success?

I think it's really important--there's been a lot of confusion back and forth on the deadline, so I just want to make it clear, to send a message to the Afghan Government.

I would urge you to consider the immediacy of those policies, because I think people's patience is fast running out, if it hasn't run out already.