We recognize the strains on families, with lengthy and multiple deployments, and a military, as far as the Army and Marine Corps are concerned, that is too small for our current obligations, on a worldwide basis.

I want to say again, General Chiarelli, how much I appreciate General Freakley, General Turner, and Secretary Geren for the seriousness with which the Army has taken the concerns that I first raised last September about what happened here.

I appreciate your leadership and support in giving us the opportunity to look more closely at this

I want to begin by thanking you and Ranking Member Graham for agreeing to hold this important hearing to shed light on an alarming trend of rising suicides in our Armed Forces.

I am on record as saying that the idea of creating an independent--and I am not sure how independent it would actually be--unaccountable truth commission is a bad idea, with all due respect.

They are fulfilling their mission for which the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps were founded, to protect all of us every day in every way.

I heartily endorse his nomination and hope you will expeditiously approve his nomination in the committee and on the floor.

If we closed Guantanamo Bay and a military tribunal or some other tribunal determines that an individual is not guilty of a particular war crime with which they're charged and they're ordered released, if we closed Guantanamo Bay and put…

I believe he agreed that open government, more transparency produces greater public confidence in their government and more accountability among public servants.

Well, of course, torture is illegal under international treaties and under our domestic laws.

Indeed, it was in July 2008 when then-Candidate Obama, before he was President, said that, if elected, he would make immigration reform, comprehensive immigration reform a top priority.