mr. clapper as head the nga -- his candor, his st. paul ordinance, his willingness to tell it like it is not the way the top brass wanted to hear it, i thought that was refreshing and enabled us to work very well. in his job, i think he will be able to speak truth to power, which god knows we need, and he will speak truth about power, which we also need. and i would hope that it has -- we don't know if we won a military guy hitting the dni, mr. clapper, he left the military service in 1995. he does not come with an extensive military staff, and i think he is going to -- he is probably the best qualified to do this job because he is not only been a nighthawk standing sentry over the united states of america, but he has run in intelligence agency and he had their run -- had to run with dramatic leadership at the top. i think we ought to give him a chance and i think we ought to hear what he has to say today. i acknowledge the validity of the questions the chair and the ranking member has raised, but i think we would do well to approve g

mr. james clapper makes a great point. it is not the subject of this conversation here, but we need to get together among ourselves to discuss how reform begins with us, meaning the senate and house. >> with respect to the appropriations committee, the three of those who serve on it -- we have all supported that. the problem is, we are only three of the couple of dozen members. it is those couple of dozen members that need to be convinced. >> i think they will be. general, dana has done her series. i believe once again that she has done a great service to the nation, having brought to the public's attention the terrible stuff going on at walter reed, secretary gates and the president responded. i'm not saying there's a scandal within the intelligence committee, but it has grown. if confirmed, will you look at the series in the post, and similar ones, for a review of the allegations about the growth and duplication? and make recommendations to the executive and legislative branch for reform? >> yes, ma'am. >> thank you. the