Jack Reed

We welcome the return of the Marine Corps to its amphibious routes.

I believe today the submarine force is our indisputable leverage over any potential adversary in the Pacific.

I believe that China's access area denial strategies are worthy of our taking a hard look at it.

I believe that North Korea is seeking asymmetric advantages over us and our allies in the Pacific, and cyber is just one of those methods by which they're seeking to get that advantage.

I believe that PACOM's primary responsibility is to support USFK on the Peninsula in the case of a Korean contingency.

Again, invariably parallels are drawn between the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan.

You're comfortable with this going forward because of the built-in flexibility and you see no arbitrary constraints going forward?

There's two principal missions. One is the train, equip, and advise the Afghan National Security Forces and the other is the counterterrorism operations.

Not only forces on the ground, but facilities that may be occupied because of conditions in the country?

A year ago I don't think anyone would have said we'd have two relatively peaceful elections in that country.

You cannot talk Afghanistan unless you talk about Pakistan as well.

We as a Nation are behind in our ability to defend that critical infrastructure.

Thank you and your families for your distinguished service to the Nation.

I think both of you gentlemen bring extraordinary dedication and service, and not just yourselves personally but your families.

I would encourage you to do that, because again I think there are so many different moving parts in these issues...

But if they do, you will inform us?

Do you anticipate any legislative requirements that you would have that would help you achieve a more efficient outcome for the Government?

The goal is to have as they say, a clean audit of the Department of Defense.

I would join Senator Inhofe in urging you to specifically focus, along with Secretary Kendall, on improving that.

We are focused very much on Iran and preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear power.

A rising power in the Asia-Pacific--it's rising very quickly. It has the means to compete with us militarily.

Part of the response to the threats around the globe is to at least reevaluate the budget priorities that we've given the Department of Defense.

We are constantly under cyber attack.

And what steps have you taken besides reporting?

Can you give us that assurance? Do you have that capacity?