Lindsey Graham

That takes us to missile defense and to suppress the Iranian nuclear threat could require some pretty sophisticated military capability.

I think I would echo Secretary Panetta when he was asked a question about this, and he said we are close to being able to strategically defeat al Qaeda.

As a matter of fact, the operational tempo is probably unheard of maybe since World War II. Is that correct?

When you look at World War II spending, you are right. We went up to 42 percent at the height of the war of GDP.

But my question is, it is not condition-based. As I understand the policy, all troops will be removed by the end of September.

This is not yet over. It is not even close. We still have a fight on our hands in places like Yemen and Somalia.

Do you think it is logical for this country to assume in the future that we are not going to have to use the Army in some kind of role in the future operations in the war on terror?

This is not a time to seek a peace dividend because we are nowhere near peace.

When we respond, we want to respond with overwhelming force. We are not looking for a fair fight here, right?

I just want the country to understand that this is not the Petraeus strategy any longer.

But politicians are accountable to the voters. The generals are accountable to their troops, to their chain of command, and to Congress.

I believe there are those who could have...

If we withdraw the 33,000 by September of next year, will this still be a counterinsurgency operation?

I really do believe that they are trying to cover up, the Karzai Government and other people in Afghanistan are trying to cover up the extent of the fraud and manipulation in this bank.

We are asking the Pakistan Government to help us find Mullah Omar, who has tried to destroy Afghanistan, who has formed an allegiance with al Qaeda.

The use of rail to move DOD's assets is a 'must-be included' in any mobilization or reset plan developed?

Mr. Panetta, in your opinion, are our Nation's first responders currently equipped with the best possible pre- and post-exposure radiation therapeutics?

Mr. Panetta, if confirmed, would you be willing to further investigate this issue in order to determine what roadblocks have halted the procurement of such a promising drug, and how best to remove such hindrances?

It is critical to have a logistics infrastructure capable of moving DOD's vehicles and assets to and from their reset and storage facilities.

Have we had enough people in RC-East since December 2009 to have an effective counterinsurgency?

I am completely okay and very much support the idea of civilian control of the military.

Mr. Panetta, would you commit to further dialogue on this issue and to provide regular updates to ensure our government and the American people are as protected as possible against these imminent threats?

If the Iraqis ask us to provide some troops in 2012, Secretary Gates says he thinks that would be smart.

Isn't that kind of stupid?

The statement to me that it makes, there is no place you can go and no passage of time that will protect you from justice being delivered by the American people.