I, too, rise to commend and thank the Senator from Colorado for his extraordinary service to the Senate, to the people of Colorado, and to the United States of America. He is a consummate gentleman. He brought to this Chamber great…

I would hope that when you go to the Federal Reserve, that you would quickly ensure that this appropriate self-analysis is going forward.

if and when people get to the point of proposing things which would fundamentally alter the separation between banking and commerce, that is a judgment for the Congress to make ultimately.

Regardless, I think, of the presence of U.S. forces there, the limiting factor appears to me to be the Afghan forces.

the perception caused by civilian casualties is one of the most dangerous things we face in Afghanistan

To be blunt, military forces can buy time, but the success there ultimately will be some type of political accommodation.

I think it has to be viewed as a critical requirement for us.

There is a possibility that there could be a serious crisis of legitimacy that will impair the ability of a very dysfunctional government to function at all.

I think we've learned worldwide is that governmental capacity is such a critical element of stability.

that is a way to lose their faith and lose their support, and that would be strategically decisive against us.

I think we need to get through these elections, see what the results are, see who we're dealing with, what the government looks like, and move forward accordingly.

It's an honor to be here today. I'm particularly pleased with the appointments that the President-elect has made, beginning with Secretary Gates.

I believe sharing accurate, relevant, and timely information... is critical to combating terrorism and ensuring national security.

In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, major efforts have been made to improve information-sharing.

I commend her to you with enthusiasm.

Now we are desperate for capital and desperate people do desperate things.

the September 11 attacks illustrated a fundamental failure by our Government to share information effectively in order to detect and prevent the attack by 'connecting the dots.'

I can't ever envision a day when I'd say that an operation I'm involved in has enough ISR.

He is superbly prepared for this job, and someone that I admire immensely.

I can't think of anyone who has the experience and the capabilities to do this job.

I know that Mary Schapiro is committed to restoring investor protection as the hallmark of the SEC.

I expect that we will be here often seeking that help.

We have to get back there. And the general question is how do we get back there, where we can confidently tell the American people that if you work hard you can expect a growth in your wages and your income.

Governor Mabus, you bring an extraordinary range of experience to the task before you. I think the President made a very wise choice.

I don't think anyone knows more about the intricacies of the budget and the institutional culture of the Pentagon than Bill Lynn.