We have to, as you both clearly indicated, not rhetorically but fundamentally respond to this.

I think keeping the larger-sized force would certainly, as you pointed out, reassure the Afghans.

From your perspective, are the problems there more political in nature or more the military capacity?

One of the issues that Senator McCain brought up and I think very correctly as the ranking member of the Seapower Subcommittee is the Ford carrier program.

We are in the midst of a doctrinal shift similar to the late 1970s and early 1980s.

It is very important that we replace it in addition to the calculus you just mentioned.

Do you agree that DOD should provide our servicemembers with the greatest level of protection under the MLA by closing these loopholes?

There has to be, I think, a national commitment to modernization of the whole triad.

It clearly exposes North Korea's willing defiance of the international community and United Nations (U.N.) Security Council's resolution.

It seems to me with the North Koreans testing, with Iran marching toward a nuclear weapon, that is a deep concern...

There are many different ways you have deal with the issue, and it goes to some of the questions I raised with Dr. Rooney.

The most important thing--and Senator Gillibrand touched on this--is the command climate that we hold commanders responsible for establishing.

Yes, I think you've touched on something that, again, is a critical issue that cuts across both AORs; that is, governmental capacity, the ability of government to provide basic service, the ability of governments to function, at least to…

They did make the commitment to a denuclearized peninsula.

We are committed, I believe, to maintain the triad of air-launched missiles as well as ground-launched missiles.

I would urge our strong support of Senator Chuck Hagel.

Going forward, the challenges there seem to be more political than any type of military threat from the outside, or an uncontrollable internal threat.

I do not think that the people who rose up in 2009 in the Green Movement... would call that government a legitimately-elected government.

Your collaboration has been--and it'll increase--certainly increase if you're confirmed; and I have every expectation you will.

My time is expired, but, again, gentlemen, there are very few people who have served the Army and the Nation with your courage and your distinction and your dedication to the soldiers. For that, I thank you.

Good-news stories about Afghanistan and the Afghan security forces don't seem to get the coverage in the U.S. media that is given to negative stories.

It would also reassure our NATO allies that we remain committed.

after so much time has passed due to the delay in consideration by the other body, it is critical that we move ahead to provide needed assistance to communities in the Northeast that were affected by Superstorm Sandy. I want to commend…

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I rise today in support of this No Budget, No Pay proposal. This is why we ran for office. This is why I came to Washington, D.C.--to stand for a vision that's going to attack this debt crisis that is upon us…

I am pleased to be joined by Senators Murkowski, Durbin, Collins, Tom Udall, Murray, Lautenberg, Blumenthal, Coons, Klobuchar, and Stabenow in the introduction of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Reauthorization. This legislation is…