in fact, general panter came to the city and said it required additional because to where we are now. three pre-positioned bords the 13, pre pole 23 r. we're going to take to poorts of the mip and because we have the pre positioned forces ready to go there in terms of the respond. that's the area of hysteria egypt, lebanon, blue, not an area at all that we would want to focus on at the moment. was it the rereasons proposal to eliminate one of these three position quad rons. >> senator, came about the time i game the monaens before we becoming. this is where the budget is where. i looked at this thing, after. what do we really need as a nation? my in stikt were probably could squad fin do we need we zoo we make adjustment on some of the. we're going to end up having to be r inl once we add ga r. let's make sure the two are in what i would call hands. in other words, they have some of the newer ships available. they use these not only for training but con titingency. among the two services, they work the details out where they have a pretty good plan. that's where i know it as i'm comfo

in fact, general panter came before the committee and said that it required additional analysis before we went on reduced operating status. but let's push forward to where we are today. we have three prepositioned forces. as i understand the '13 proposal, we're going to go from three to two. and in the area that we're going to take out one of the prepositioned forces is in the mediterranean. and just so people understand, you know, what areas that allows us for faster response time and because we have the prepositioned forces reddy to go there in terms of the equipment needed if we have to respond, that's the area of syria, egypt, israel, lebanon, tunisia, libya, the entire west coast of africa. there's nothing happening in that area of the world at all that we might want to keep a focus on at the moment. to general amos, would be with the marine proposal to eliminate one of these prepositioned squadrons? >> senator, discussion came about the time i became the commandant, just about 18 months as we were looking, this was before the budget control act i want to put it in context. but i