I look forward to hearing their honest assessments of the situation on the ground, and to having the benefit of their advice, unvarnished and straight from the shoulder, on how to proceed in the weeks and months ahead.
Robert Gates discusses his approach to understanding the situation in Iraq as he takes on the role of Secretary of Defense.
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Without proper and predictable funding, no amount of reform or clever reorganization will provide America with a military capable of accomplishing the missions it's assigned to.
My concern is, we don't have an overriding strategy on the part of the United States in this complex challenge over the next 20 to 30 years.
I think part of the problem is that at the end of the Cold War, we were affected by triumphalism or hubris, whatever you want to call it.
Senator Kaine will recall the reaction when we--when I shuttered Joint Forces Command in Norfolk.
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