i first want to express my condolences to the family of general john shalikashivili who passed away last saturday. general shalikashivili was born.land of georgian parents in 1936, fled from the advancing soviets near the end of world war ii. came to the united states as a teenager and rose from the ranks to become chairman of the joint chiefs of staff from 1993 to 1997. and he was great american patriot and army leader. general dempsey, just three months ago on april 11th you became chief of staff of the army. you're now poised to become joint chief of staff. you're prepared well to become the principal military advisor to the president and leader of the joint chiefs. without question your combat experience and career military leadership, your service as acting commander of u.s. central command, and your thorough understanding of our transforming force stressed by a decade of combat will serve you well as strategic decisions regarding iraq and afghanistan must be made and we face hard calls about our priorities in the future. we're conducting this hearing at a time when americans are de

i first want to express my condolences to the family of general john shalikashivili who passed away last saturday. general shalikashivili was born.land of georgian parents in 1936, fled from the advancing soviets near the end of world war ii. came to the united states as a teenager and rose from the ranks to become chairman of the joint chiefs of staff from 1993 to 1997. and he was great american patriot and army leader. general dempsey, just three months ago on april 11th you became chief of staff of the army. you're now poised to become joint chief of staff. you're prepared well to become the principal military advisor to the president and leader of the joint chiefs. without question your combat experience and career military leadership, your service as acting commander of u.s. central command, and your thorough understanding of our transforming force stressed by a decade of combat will serve you well as strategic decisions regarding iraq and afghanistan must be made and we face hard calls about our priorities in the future. we're conducting this hearing at a time when americans are de