Jack Reed

But there is a political connotation to 'deployment,' which I think has gotten in, perhaps.

Mr. Secretary, I could not agree with you more.

So there is a possibility that in September 2004, this system will not be deployed?

My point is, I understand we have to build it. But maybe I am missing something, but usually we deploy systems that are at least built, not fully tested, but at least built.

This seems to be a departure from the--my assumption that we will build a system and then we will test it.

We are deploying it in 2004; is that correct? Am I wrong?

Like of all of us, we are expecting the commitment of military forces. I have every confidence that they will prevail.

The sooner these plans are presented to us, the more opportunity we will have to look at your proposals.

I think the long-term concern is if we stay at current levels of mobilization, eventually it's going to impact on Reserve component retention and recruiting as well.

You are going to have to replace them is my point.

Let me raise the pressure that we are seeing back home with the National Guard and Reserve.

One of the reasons I am concerned about it is that, generally, these things usually take longer and more people than you expect even in your most realistic estimate.

Secretary White, many of the questions this morning focused on the forces that will be needed to not only decisively engage in defeat of Iraq if so ordered, but longer term occupational forces.

Of course with this deployment forward, you have to have a rotational force upon it.

It is very difficult to interject military forces into a region and it is sometimes more difficult to get them out

Unless the world wakes up and says this is a dangerous thing, and creates a set of regimes that will in fact get cooperation to stop those weapons, we are going to be facing a very serious situation in the next 5 years.

We need a booster rocket that has not yet been integrated into the system.

North Korea has a military force capable of a surprise attack, clearly Iraq does not.

One of the confusing elements is the apparent disparate treatment between the threat posed by Iraq and the threat posed by North Korea.

Our response to the North Korean situation has been to refer it to the United Nations, our response to the Iraq situation has been to, we hope, encourage the United Nations enforcement but prepare to go it alone.

As we all understand, the American public is terribly concerned about developments around the globe and even within the United States.

Frankly, the other argument that is made against affirmative action programs is that they stigmatize the beneficiaries. That could not be further from the truth when it comes to the wonderful officers who have graduated from West Point…

The Reed-Durbin amendment would provide up to 1 million Americans who are long-term unemployed and were not assisted by the January 8 amendment we passed. This would be a positive stimulus for our economy. These benefits would be paid out…

I simply want to commend you for taking the initiative along with Senator Harkin on this very important issue

I have heard that a cut in the budget is not a reduction but an encouragement.