I, too, want to add my support of the gentlemen who have been nominated for these positions.

We think that the transformation that's being undertaken by the Air Force is important and might be something that is replicated in some of the other Services.

As the ranking member of the Seapower Subcommittee, I have to express my displeasure at the way in which General Pace was treated.

I do have a question regarding the global war on terror, which we all realize I think requires a different strategy.

That's probably a very safe answer for you right now.

You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.

I think the real opportunity here for Congress to have a say in this, if they wanted to, would be with respect to the purse and the power that we have in terms of appropriations.

What do you think the consequences should be if the Iraqi Government fails to step up and follow through on its promises?

But it seems to me that the bottom line concern that we have to have is that our troops understand that we are committed to them and support them and want to make sure that they have every opportunity to be victorious, to complete the…

Sectarian-motivated violence now inhibits political progress, effective governance, and economic development.

I believe that the commitment, the political commitment of the Iraqi government to the success of this plan, is probably more important right now than the additional troops.

let me echo what has been said repeatedly here and express my appreciation for your service to your country under extraordinarily difficult circumstances.