I just envision more drones, fewer manned aircraft when it comes to surveillance, because the cost of losing a pilot in a war is a lot different than it is losing a drone.

I want to be on the record denouncing Senator McCain's attack on the University of Alabama.

We have a window of time here to engage both countries, and it is in our national security interest to provide the assistance.

It is not in America's interest to leave Georgia without adequate means to defend itself.

Shouldn't we prevent them from getting a nuclear capability, not contain them?

Maybe we should be thinking about are these requirements too severe, given the threats that we face and all the good programs are at risk.

Do you think that Congress should look at granting greater authority?

But somebody needs to be, and maybe that's what we're all up here for, is to try to find out the long run and not create budget crises that really make short-term decisions that are not long-term smart.

I just find that hard to believe. The U-2 is a great platform and great crews and maintainers, but I just can't believe that a manned aircraft can do all the things that these drones are capable of doing for the next 25 or 30 years.

So you would agree with the concept that post-2014 if we had a configuration of American forces with adequate air power to assist the Afghan security forces, plus a Special Forces component, the Taliban days are over in terms of military…

I feel like what he did was in the best interest of our troops.

I look forward to working with Senator Leahy and others to bring about what he indicated to make it a reality. The bottom line of this whole discussion is that the Cold War is over. We are very proud of our standing military, our Army…

What I am about to provide to the body, I think we need to absorb and be aware of. This study that Senator Leahy is talking about, an analysis of the effectiveness and cost, is an ongoing endeavor. I would like to know more about what the…

Senator Leahy is right. When we look at our Constitution itself, it talks about a militia. When we look at the history of the country, it is the citizen soldier who got this whole concept called America started. We do need a standing Army…

The Senator is absolutely right. When we look at the utilization of the Guard and Reserve since 9/11, it has been at World War II levels. When we go into the combat theater, we can't tell the difference between Guard, Reserve or…

I appreciate the opportunity to engage in this colloquy. As cochairman of the Guard Caucus, which obviously has the Air National Guard Component, Senator Leahy has been a real pleasure to work with. The bottom line is, this effort to…

Earmarking is a very parochial endeavor that does not allow you to look beyond your local interest.

We need to spend taxpayer dollars wisely with some kind of plan.

Count me in. How the hell do you get your products to the market?

I can tell you there is not, and that reflects badly on us all.

I want to actually bring a solution.

We have absolutely no vision as a Nation as to how to deal with the change in shipping.

If the People's Liberation Army of China is engaged in cyber attacks against this country to steal our defense infrastructure, our trade secrets, our national security information, would you consider such activity, if it did occur, a…

If China engages in a cyber attack upon the United States, do you believe it is legitimate under the Law of War for the United States to respond in kind?

DOD has a critical role in developing and executing the Nation's approach to cybersecurity.