Joe Manchin

These forces will play a critical role in securing the Homeland and our entire critical infrastructure.

The National Guard could play a huge role in the Nation's cyber security mission.

My time is running out, but this is really something very much concerning to me, and I think a lot of this can be avoided if we can get our cost effectiveness.

That would almost immediately put you in the strategic reserve, right?

This year the Army effectively cancelled the Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) after investing almost $1 billion in the program.

I'm here speaking for all three components. I'm the only one under title 10 who's responsible for ensuring that a total Army is here.

With a cost of $43 million per battalion, sir, and basically I've witnessed and seen the performance of the Guard, which has been exemplary.

I do understand that. I just appreciate the diligence on this, because I think it's important for them to do their job.

We're asking you--and I really appreciate the military, DOD, Secretary Hagel, for truly putting a budget forward...

If we have laws, redundancies, things that are strapping you and holding you back... we have to get serious about this.

So we have more contractors in Afghanistan than we do boots-on-the-ground?

Are we having the same rapid reduced, reduction, as far as our back line as we do the front line?

If there's a possibility I can sit down with you or whoever you would put in that position in front, me and my staff would be very happy to be able to work with you.

I have not heard when I was governor of the State of West Virginia and now in my role as a Senator, from anybody in the military that the Guard was not able to perform whatever mission you asked when they were in the Active rotation.

I recognize and appreciate the need to modify the structure of the Army to better fit today's operational requirements and fiscal constraints.

I think if there is better unity there, in terms of who to support and how to support them, I think that this gets better in a hurry.

I think, on Syria, have we been able to identify any of the rebels that we would consider to be now friendly?

What engagement does AFRICOM have in this situation? What do you think the United States could do to assist?

Are we prepared to move, militarily, into Ukraine for the support of that government that we have acknowledged?

An Iran with a nuclear weapon is a very dangerous situation, not only for the region, but also for the world.

President Karzai insisted the United States must jumpstart peace talks with the Taliban insurgency and end raids and strikes before he signs the BSA.

I believe as a Nation we are much stronger with those people in uniform than we are with the contractors that we are using.

I just feel the Guard can be used in a much more cost-saving and efficient manner.

I am not of the belief that 10,000 troops being left in Afghanistan will change the direction.

We are all about warfighting readiness. There is a bright connection, inextricable connection, between warfighting readiness and energy.