our role there is to make sure that sovereignty is not destroyed by a extreme group, the Taliban.

Rhode Island faces the Nation's third highest unemployment rate at 12.7 percent and a recession that hit earlier than any other State.

The enemy is not monolithic, and we have to adapt to how the enemy has adapted, but, yes, sir.

it's not just our mission, it's their mission, which we're helping them to succeed with.

This is not a strictly, indeed, perhaps even most importantly, a military operation; it's a combined military-civilian operation.

it's a moral imperative that we use everything we have to ensure that they get out of it.

I think we met about 40 years ago and in the intervening 40 years he has acquitted himself magnificently as a soldier.

Do you feel confident that you'll be able to give your uninhibited advice to both the Secretary of Defense and the President before they make any final decision?

That transition point is not a withdrawal, but it is a transition to a different mission.

In my view, there's some demagoguery going on over here on this issue.

I'm not really sure what utility changing this name would bring about.

Thank you for your devoted service to the Marine Corps and to the Nation.

There's no doubt in my mind it is, sir.

One of the consequences of this severe financial crisis is more than 30 States have borrowed up to $35 billion from the Federal Government to continue paying their regular unemployment compensation benefits.

I join my colleague and friend Senator Whitehouse in paying tribute to an extraordinary American, an extraordinary Rhode Islander, George Panichas. He has been a friend and a mentor to both of us. He has been a force throughout his life…

shortly, we will have the honor and privilege, myself and Senator Whitehouse, to join in supporting and confirming the nomination of Justice Rogeriee Thompson, who will be confirmed today to the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Justice…

how do you believe we should ensure that there is adequate coordination between DOD, DOS, and USAID

Yemen and Somalia are often referred to as failing or failed states.

one of the common criticisms of indirect CVE missions, such as the media campaigns and civil affairs projects, is that the effectiveness of the activity is difficult to measure...

I have long worked to improve and fund the LEAP program. As such, I was disappointed that the President's fiscal year 2011 budget eliminated funding for LEAP.

So, it leads to the obvious question of what we can do to help these States.

One of the consequences of this severe financial crisis is more than 30 States have borrowed up to $35 billion from the Federal Government to continue paying their regular unemployment compensation benefits.

I think we all recognize that your advocacy within the Cabinet for this--these programs and these policies is absolutely critical.

One of the aspects of our response to these threats is the coordination between agencies of the government.

even in the best of times when the economy is doing very well and the temperature is relatively mild, there are long, long waiting lists in my State and other States.