"The Army will continue to play a key role in our national defense."
"Over the last ten years, the Army has been an important part of our efforts to defeat violent extremists and ensure our national security."
"I think you have given an excellent summary of the challenges facing the Marine Corps and the Navy."
"A lot has changed in the last 10 years, and it has certainly made sense to have the top leadership at the Pentagon get together and look at those changes."
"I truly believe that the plan that you put forth does the best job of doing that that we could do in our uncertain world."
"I am particularly interested in the new laydown, the shift in the focus to the Asian theater."
"I think you have done a great job."
"I do share the Chairman's concerns about sequestration. I think it is just not debatable that it would be devastating."
"We must prevent this. Now, it is possible and I think highly likely, actually, that we would come in, in December, and find a way to avoid sequestration."
"A key component of this strategic shift is, as Secretary Panetta stated yesterday, a 'Navy that maintains forward presence and is able to penetrate enemy defenses and a Marine Corps that is a middlewe..."
"I have consistently said that we can rationally evaluate our national security strategy, our defense expenditures, and the current set of missions we ask the military to undertake and come up with a s..."
"Overall, the defense budget is also fully consistent with the funding levels set by the Budget Control Act passed by Congress."