Mike McCaul

We must also secure our borders. We must intensify southbound inspections to seize weapons and cash that arm and fund Drug Trafficking Organizations.

Members may have additional questions that you can respond to in writing.

I think the situation has become so dire down there and such a crisis that it is my sincere hope the politics will change on this.

What are you doing by way of negotiation to exert this country's considerable leverage to ensure that our agents assigned there have the means to protect and defend themselves?

There is absolutely no reason why our agents, no matter who they are, where they are at, should not be properly equipped and properly protected.

If this happens, Mexico could become a safe haven for terrorists who we know are attempting to enter the United States through our porous border.

It is in our own security interest. It is in our own self interest.

I think there is a much larger phenomena that we need to take a look at because if we limit our scope to simply what is happening on the border then I think we are mentioning a much bigger picture.

I look forward to working with you, Mr. Thompson, in a bipartisan way to increase resources for what I consider should be one of the highest priorities of the Federal Government...

I have declared war on these drug cartels which threaten the security of my nation.

I have introduced legislation requiring the State Department to classify drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

But we don't seem to have a plan or a strategy for Mexico and I think that is the thrust of this hearing is: What should that plan be?

Failure is not an option.

In my judgment, the Mexicans are losing this war and so are we.

What is our plan? What is our strategy in dealing with Mexico?

Thank you for your service and your colleagues who really put themselves in harm's way every day.

Are we going to help them win this war or not? It is a war, and President Calderon calls it a war.

Come on. Could you give me your take on what we are doing right now with President Wade in Senegal?

Reducing global poverty is not a matter of altruism, though it would be the right thing to do even if it brought us no direct benefits.

I think if we take the Government out of the picture and allow private sector to create a nonprofit together...

That is certainly good news, and I do want to commend you for that.

Dramatic increases in food prices in 2007-2008 created a global crisis and led to political and economic instability around the world.

Countries that descend into chaos and anarchy provide breeding grounds for extremism and training grounds for terrorists.

I have written repeatedly, raised this issue with the Secretary of State, tried to get everybody to reevaluate the $540 million over in Senegal.

Chief Fisher, I would also be interested in your answer to Ranking Member Cuellar's question, if you could forward that to my office as well that answer.