adopted in the senate armeservices committee today did provide for the chairman of the joint chiefs, mike mullens who has made his comments pretty clear. secretary gates and the president of the united states have to certify that they -- that the processes are in place. i understand the difference in opinion here is that and is sympathetic with your view. mr. mckeon: reclaiming my time. because here's what's actually going to happen. and as i talked to the chiefs on the phone, one of them said very clearly, i know how this works around this here and i know how the amendment was written, we take the vote tonight and we follow through the process, but it becomes a sham, because the headline, as he said would be don't ask, don't tell, don't ask don't tell is repealed. and it's already on the headline. i just saw the news alert, senate votes to repeal don't ask, don't tell. he said i understand that. but those troops in afghanistan, when they see it, when they hear it, they're going to see it's repealed. why are you asking me my opinion? it's done. it's a done deal. we may understand that by law it w

obama's position was quickly endorsed by the chair of the joint chiefs of staff, admiral mike mullen. but this week, leaders of the four military branches wrote that they firmly oppose congressional action before the military finishes its review. they sent letters to two leading republicans, senator john mccain of arizona and congressman buck mckeon of california. >> we're dissing the troops, that's what we're doing. we're disrespecting them. >> woodruff: other house republicans joined mckeon in objecting to a vote on repeal, at least for now. >> the american people don't want the american military used as a vehicle to advance a liberal social agenda. give the men and women in uniform a say before bringing this change to the floor of this house. >> reporter: democrats countered the bill would not come into force until after the review was completed. >> it will meet, absolutely, the requirement that the secretary of defense and others have put out, to get input from the armed forces. and it will not-- let me repeat, will not be changed until the secretary of defense and chairman of the

in my opening comments i stated that at merrill mike mullen told this committee in afghanistan we do what we can and iraq and we do what we must 18 months ago. and actually this statement was made december of 2007 swy wanted to correct that for the record. as i stated earlier, i'm concerned that the 40,000 troup cap for afghanistan forcing difficult decisions to be made when it comes to finding certain key enablers including force protection measures for via forward operating basis do we have a troup cap in afghanistan? >> we do not have a truck cab. 30,000 is the number of forces the president has approved. it isn't a cap, per say petraeus bac that is based on the assessment on the ground and the assistant subject to review both by general mcchrystal and back here in washington. and the 30k that people refer to is just one component, sir, because we have an additional nine to 10,000 of nato forces and then we have what is now in route to 134 afghan national army and up to 170 some afghan national police. so you have to look at the composite mix of all of the security forces and we a

in my opening comments i stated that at merrill mike mullen told this committee in afghanistan we do what we can and iraq and we do what we must 18 months ago. and actually this statement was made december of 2007 swy wanted to correct that for the record. as i stated earlier, i'm concerned that the 40,000 troup cap for afghanistan forcing difficult decisions to be made when it comes to finding certain key enablers including force protection measures for via forward operating basis do we have a troup cap in afghanistan? >> we do not have a truck cab. 30,000 is the number of forces the president has approved. it isn't a cap, per say petraeus bac that is based on the assessment on the ground and the assistant subject to review both by general mcchrystal and back here in washington. and the 30k that people refer to is just one component, sir, because we have an additional nine to 10,000 of nato forces and then we have what is now in route to 134 afghan national army and up to 170 some afghan national police. so you have to look at the composite mix of all of the security forces and we a

he will place a wreath at the historic tomb of the unknown, joined by admiral mike mullen. later the vice president will give an address at the nearby memorial amphitheater. today the president is observing memorial day in illinois. here at arlington national ceremony -- cemetery we expect shortly the arrival of the official parties. live, c-span. >> vice-president joseph biden has arrived and is being greeted by today's poshost. . . ♪ ["the star spangled banner"] ♪ ♪ [drum roll] ♪ ["taps"] ♪ ♪ ♪ [applause] >> please and gentlemen, please stand for the introduction of the vice-president, conners, invocation and national anthem. -- ownerhonors, invocation and national anthem. >mr. jack metzler, arlington national cemetery superintendent. major general carl r. horst, the united states army district of arm -- of washington. about role michael mullen, chairman, joint chiefs of staff. the hon. -- hon. william flynt iii, deputy -- william lynn iii, deputy secretary of defense. ladies and gentlemen, the vice president of the united states. ♪ >> will you go with me in prayer? our g

three days after this happened, we had a meeting in the situation room where i asked bob gates and mike mullen what we have that could help bp. we do not have technology when it comes to dealing with this particular crisis. one of the legitimate questions that i think it might be asked is, should the federal government have such capacity? that is part of what the role of the commission is going to be, to take a look and say, do we make sure that a consortium of oil companies pay for specific technology to deal with this kind of incident when it happens? should that response team that is affected be under the direct charge of the united states government, or a private entity? but, for now, bp as the best technology, along with the other oil companies, when it comes to actually capping the well. when it comes to what is happening on the surface, we have been much more involved. the burns, the scheming, those have been happening more or less under our direction. we feel comfortable about many of the steps that been taken. there have been areas where there have been disagreements. i will give you

nearly 18 months ago admiral mike mullen told this committee, and i quote, in afghanistan we do what we can. in iraq, we do what we must. when it comes to resourcing our efforts in afghanistan, i remain concerned that we are not doing everything that we must in order to ensure that the general mcchrystal and his commanders on the battlefield have the time, space and resources they need to succeed. let me be clear. i have the utmost confidence that general mcchrystal and his troops will get the job done. my concern is that the minimalist approach being abdicated from some in washington raises the risk and increases casualties. the 30,000 troop cap put in place by this administration is sending the wrong signal to our commanders and enforcing military planners to make difficult trade-off decisions between combat troops and key enablers. i am particularly concerned we are under resourcing force protection capabilities. it is my understanding that there continues to be a serious, indirect fire threat to u.s. and coalition forward operating bases in afghanistan. yet the current force prot

in the senate armed services committee today did provide for the chairman of the joint chiefs, mike mullens who has made his comments pretty clear. secretary gates and the president of the united states have to certify that they -- that the processes are in place. i understand the difference in opinion here is that and is sympathetic with your view. mr. mckeon: reclaiming my time. because here's what's actually going to happen. and as i talked to the chiefs on the phone, one of them said very clearly, i know how this works around this here and know how the amendment was written, we take the vote tonht and we follow through the process, but it becomes a sham, because the headline, as he said would be don't ask, don't tell, don't ask don't tell is repealed. and it's already on the headline. i just saw the news alert, senate votes to repeal don't ask, don't tell. he said i understand that. but those troops in afghanistan, when they see it, when they hear it, they're going to see it's repealed. why are you asking me my opinion? it's done. it's done deal. we may understand that by law it will fo

nicholas sarkozy and with the nation's military officer chairman of the joint chiefs of staff admiral mike mullen or tonight the economy's most important business leader citigroup ceo vikram pandit. today is our third topic on the economy a topic that is right at the top of concern not only across our own country but across the globe in the wake of the worst financial crisis since the great depression of the 1930s. just two weeks ago on this stage, columbia economists and nobel laureate joel stiglitz a conversation with the trading commission chair gary gentzler and former sec chair arthur leavitt and earlier this year we listened to bill dudley president of the federal reserve bank of new york. and, of course, there have been many conferences and seminars, classes and conversations across the campus over the past year at our law and business schools, our schools of journalism and public affairs college and engineering school seeking to understand what happened to our global financial system. and why? and what should be done about it now? our distinctive role is to bring scholarly perspective to

he is joined by joint chiefs of staff chairman mike mullen.his is a 30-minute news briefing. >> good afternoon. earlier this week, and that the department's senior leadership to establish a plan and process for accomplishing this goal. this will require the party attention of our entire leadership team and include all services, command components and elements of america's defense establishment. at the same time, will be reaching out to the contras, academia, think tanks, and elsewhere for specific and workable proposals on how to change the way this department does business. is support to know that contrary to some of this, it is not about cutting the overall defense budget. there remains my firm belief that during a time of continued conflict, the united states regards the defense budget that grows modestly but steadily in real terms for the long haul. it is a budget proposal currently under consideration with a real growth path. the department will face very difficult choices with regard to sustaining needed military capabilities in the year

admiral mike mullen, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, is providing farsighted leadership to our ability at a time of great talent in transition. we fight two wars and faced the diffuse to threats of the post- 9/11 world. both admiral mullen and secretary gates were originally appointed to their current positions by the last administration. their support for a new start is a sign that the treaty is consistent with our long tradition of bipartisanship on strategic arms control very we thank you all for being here today. we look forward to your testimony and the opportunity to discuss this important treaty. senator lugar -- >> thank you very much, mr. chairman. i join you in welcoming secretary clinton, secretary gates, and admiral mullen to the foreign relations committee once again. we are very pleased that our national security leadership is with us. to present the new start treaty an end to the questions of the senators. our witnesses have been deeply involved in the negotiation of the new start treaty as well as the formation of the broader context of nuclear weapons polic

i was asking bob gates and mike mullen, what do we have that could potentially help that the other oil companies across the world do not have. we do not have this when it comes to dealing with this particular crisis. one problem is whether the federal government should have this is part of the role of the mission, to take a look at this and say, can we make certain that the oil companies pay for the specific technologies to deal with this incident when it takes place? and should the response team be under the direct charge of the united states government, were a private entity? but for right now, they have better technology along with the oil companies when it comes to capping the oil well. and when it comes to the surface, we have been much more involved in the skimming, and those have been happening under the direction and we feel comfortable about many steps that have been taken. and there are areas with disagreements. i will give you a couple of examples. originally, there were questions in terms of how effective that this would be, and also, the risks involved. we are 1 mile under

admiral mike mullen, chairman of the joint chiefs of stf, may have put it best when he said, and i quote him, i cannot escape being troubled by a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens. for me personally, it comes down to integrity. theirs as individuals and ours as an institution, unquote. and last night, mr. speaker, it came down to our integrity. the integrity of those of us privileged to serve in the people's house. i can't remember too many prouder moments during my time here because at last we have the integrity to do what's right, to support our troops and strengthen our military by repealing the cruel and unamerican don't ask, don't tell policy. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: mr. mccaul of texas. without objection. the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. mr. mccaul: thank you, mr. speaker. as we go back home to our districts to honor the veterans on memorial day, today i rise to honor a true american hero, corporal jeffrey johnson. third battalion, first marine division. born january 27, 1989 in cha

he was joined by admiral mike mullen. this is about half an hour. [applause] >> kurram morning. mr.resident, members of congress, secretary lnn, a distinguished guest, veterans, family members of our fallen warriors, and fellow americans, everyear since civil war reconstruction americans have set aside this day to pay tribute to service and sacrifice. no place more than arlington reminds me of what we owe them d their families for what they have given to us. in fores and jungles, beaches and desert, and across seas and skies, young americans have fought for each other, fought for their families, and fought for us. now they peacefully rest in cemeteries, and marked battlefield graves, and in the deepest oceans around the world. each plot enshrines a unique story and we remember the sacrifice, humility and the service each name represents. the great world war ii correspondent early -- ernie pyle never forgot these stories, particularly those that the fall and could never tell. in the wake of the normandy invasion on the beach were so many of gave their lives, he found bibles, toothbru

the exact wording was, "neither he nor mike mullen would go as far as characterizing that attack as an act of war." that was the wording. >> you are talking about secretary gates? >> yes. >> as we have made clear, this was a clear and compelling violation of the existing armistices. it was without doubt a hostile and provocative act, unwarranted. i think our characterization's are broadly consistent. we will be evaluating -- i think our characterization is broadly consistent. we will be evaluating this with our regional partners. there will clearly be consequences to north korea. >> just to clarify -- does the state department see this as an act of war or not? >> the statement that we put out before called it an act of aggression. everyone has their particular term. "act of war" -- it was or torpedo fired by one military vessel against another. no one knows what the intent of north korea was. but it was unwarranted and unnecessary. it killed 46 south korean sailors. we will be working together. there will be a strong and appropriate international response. >> on the same subject, as pa

sarkozy, and the highest-ranking military officer, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, admiral mike mullenwhere tonight, one of the global economy's most important business leaders, the c.e.o. c.e.o. -- the citigroup ceo. this is a topic that is rightly at the top of concern in conversation not only across our own country but across the globe in the wake of the worst financial crisis since the great depression of the 1930's. just two weeks ago on this stage, just ziegler -- joe had a conversation with others, including arthur levitt, and there was the president of the federal reserve bank of new york, and, of course, there's been many conversations, classes, and seminars over the past year at our law and business schools, schools of journalism, engineering schools, all seeking to understand. what happened to our global financial system, n.y., and what should be done about it? our distinctive role is to bring scholarly perspective to this historical moment. we're obviously not alone in asking these important questions. indeed, since the moment of the meltdown in september 2008, perhaps to t