Jack Reed

I believe it sends the wrong signal to the Afghans to do that.

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

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.

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…

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

I think it's essential to our overall relationship, and I think it will be very helpful in us trying to move forward with what we're doing in Afghanistan.

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

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

I don't think we could find someone better acclimated to the various challenges; and there are quite a few throughout the region.

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.

I respect his service to our country, I just think that with the challenges we face around the world right now, I judge him based on his record.

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

I think all of us agree here that there are things that we could do better in the Pentagon.

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

I would urge our strong support of Senator Chuck Hagel.

I expect, though, if you're confirmed as the Secretary of Defense the President of the United States will not turn to you and ask you about your floor speeches.

I think the President chose wisely. There are very few people in this country with the experience, as a combat infantryman, decorated and wounded, as a business leader, as the second leader of the Veterans Administration, as a U.S…

As a Republican, I stand up here today to join my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and associate my words with the gentleman from Maryland. Even though my district was not impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, it is…

I have a comment on an additional issue but would only do so if the Senator from Rhode Island would allow.

Your testimony has been both thoughtful and thought-provoking, so expect lots of written questions.

I think that unless someone objects, this issue of--one of the categories we have to look at in market formulation is the responsibilities of market makers.

I think there might be a rule of thumb that anything that could be used as a title for a Batman movie is probably not something that is good in the financial markets.

It has been very, very helpful, and Senator Crapo's question has raised a question in my mind.

It is very disturbing to have a report that shows 1.4 percent negative equity in a critical fund, and this is an issue that has not suddenly emerged.

I would ask that a copy of his letter be entered into the record.