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

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

Would it be in our national security interest to open up transportation routes in the north to get supplies and equipment into Afghanistan without having to send everything through Pakistan?

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?

I believe that General Petraeus and all under his command--Admiral McRaven, all of your forces--have done a fantastic job of going from defense to offense.

It is not helpful. I think all of us--Senator Levin, McCain, and myself--have a goal of transitioning to Afghan control.

Do you agree with me that we need to embed some American soldiers in the future to make sure the Afghan army develops in a mature professional fashion?

Do you agree with me that the counterterrorism component that exists today will be needed past 2014 to make sure al Qaeda and Taliban do not regenerate?

How many States have joined the lawsuit saying the individual mandate is unconstitutional, if the Senator knows that number?

I ask the Senator, what percentage of the waivers involve union plans?

On that note, I would say to the Presiding Officer and to my friend from Wyoming, there seems to be a lot of ways to lower costs. The status quo is not acceptable. The solution we have chosen in a very partisan way I think is going to…

If I may, I think the Senator is going to find this case going to the Supreme Court in a year or two--the sooner the better, as far as I am concerned. I don't know how the Court will rule, but I can understand why attorneys general would…

None of us believes the current health care situation is sustainable. Medicare and Medicaid need to be reformed, but so do private health care cost increases. There are monopolies out there by insurance companies. To be able to buy across…

No. 1, Senator Barrasso, who is an orthopedic surgeon, has been a great addition to the Republican conference and to the Senate as a whole. He is a doctor and has practiced medicine longer than he has been in politics, I am sure, and he…

No judge is going to ask the average person what they think, nor should they. This is a legal question. I don't know how it is going to come out. I think it is probably 50-50. What we are doing differently, I say to my friend from Wyoming…

Isn't it time to urge democracy and freedom and not the time to threaten? There is plenty of time to threaten the Government and people of Egypt with reprisal. The time now is to urge democracy and freedom.

Well said. It is now time for the United States to say what we are for and urge the Egyptian people to realize their hopes and dreams and that we want to be their partner. Now is not the time to sever the partnership. Now is the time to…

Tomorrow is a big day for the future of Egypt. Senator McCain said it well: To the Army, I doubt if they are watching C-SPAN, but they have a chance to bring order out of chaos and to continue to have respect throughout the world and…

To carry out your mission in 2012 without U.S. military security being provided, we're basically creating a small DOS army, correct?

If you bring all the troops home, we all would like that to happen as soon as possible, you still have a country that is in a very early stage of development in terms of democracy.

How dependent are you today on American military security for your movements?

We're not staying in a place where we're not wanted, is that a fair statement, whatever 'staying' means?

You need to provide some assistance and nurturing to make sure they grow up strong and healthy.

the country is debating a lot of issues. We passed the health care bill last year. Now there is an effort in the House to repeal and replace it. I join my House colleagues with the idea that we should start over and come up with some…

At the end of the day, the whole process has a conclusion to it. We're about to spend $35 billion of taxpayers' money here and quite frankly, I think it is important.