Anthony Principi Quotations

would be a tragic mistake for the nation.

We reached our decisions through open, fair and non-partisan process.

We have real questions with regard to some of the recommendations as they apply to the Air National Guard.

I fail to see at this point how you could arrive at the figures they arrived at. We're going through this effort to save money from excess capacity to modernize forces. If the savings aren't there, and it costs money to do this on top of all the economic upheaval, why are we doing this?

Today it is estimated we probably have about 25 percent excess capacity in our public shipyards,

Whatever it costs, we need to incur that cost to provide that world-class care to an extraordinary group of men and women in harm's way,

gold standard by which the country should measure shipyards.

Kids coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan . . . deserve to come back to 21st-century medical care, ... Whatever it costs, we need to incur that cost to provide that world-class care to an extraordinary group of men and women in harm's way.

it is now time for me to move on to fresh opportunities and different challenges.

It is incumbent upon this commission to ensure that the Department of Defense's closure and realignment recommendations, especially those pertaining to the Air National Guard, do not undermine the unique mission responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security.

I think we're keeping faith in the people of Limestone. They've also proved their mettle, because I believe they're one of the highest-quality (accounting offices) in the system, and customer satisfaction indices show them to have done a superb job.

My challenge as chairman of the 2005 BRAC Commission was to ensure that I and the members of the commission understood the role IT played in the transformation strategy that served as the foundation of the Defense Department's base closure and realignment proposals.

will positively shape our military for decades to come.

We know that the decisions we reach will have a profound impact on the communities hosting our military installations, and more importantly, on the people who bring those communities to life.

While we listened carefully to the input from the local communities, military value was our top priority.

We haven't been able to find an answer to the Persian Gulf Syndrome,

the premiere public shipyard. It should be the gold standard by which we should measure other shipyards. Their ability to turn around subs quicker than any other shipyard, thereby saving the Navy (money), was significantly noted.

The proof is in the pudding when they come home. Will we have the data about their health, will we know where they were stationed, what their unit deployments were? I will need that information.

Our nation needs the BRAC process. No institution can remain successful if it does not adapt to its constantly changing environment. Our armed forces must adapt to changing global threats, evolving technology and new strategies and structures.

Kids coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan deserve to come back to 21st century medical care.

Why are we abandoning the region closest to the sea? I question the wisdom of doing that.

At the end of the day, if you don't have end-strength reductions, you don't have any military savings,

I still don't buy their argument about savings.

The submarine base is more than piers and parking spaces for nuclear subs, ... tragic.

proposals to restructure military infrastructure against the human and painful impact of those proposals.

This is certainly one of the most significant recommendations to come before the commission.

I, too, strongly support this amendment ... it is a superb depot and they are doing a great job in this period of war.

It's important for our nation that our military and our society be close together. That's important for democracy. And it's important for recruiting. It's important for retention. It's important for building support for our engagements overseas.

It keeps offices open in areas that would have a tremendous economic impact,

In parts, we concur with their recommendations. In other areas, we're making some changes,

I know of no mission more worthwhile than serving the men and women who have so honorably served their nation,

I am proud of the recommendations the commission submitted to the president, ... We reached our decisions through an open, fair, non-partisan process.

The commission went to extraordinary lengths to ensure the soundness, correctness and integrity of the base realignment and closure process and to fulfill our commitment to transparency, honesty and fairness for all,