United States Senate Committee On Armed Services

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Senate Armed Services Committee and Pentagon illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

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Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Joseph Dunford, Jr., testifies during his Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing to become the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, July 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

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Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the impact of the Budget Control Act of 2011 and sequestration on national security, Jan. 28, 2015. (Associated Press) ** FILE **

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Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington in this May 5, 2015, file photo. (AP Photo/Brett Carlsen, File)

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Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. (Associated Press) ** FILE **

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The Senate Armed Services Committee criticized the Air Force for not moving briskly enough away from older Russian rocket engines, a move many see as politically retaliatory for Moscow's actions in Ukraine. (Associated Press)

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Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey arrive on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 3, 2015, to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to review the defense authorization request for fiscal 2016 and the future years defense program. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

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Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks to reporters as he heads to the chamber for a procedural vote at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, March 2, 2015. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., bangs the gavel to start a committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington in this Jan. 21, 2015, file photo. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)

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Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., gathers a bipartisan group of senators to call on President Barack Obama to provide defensive weapons to Ukraine to fight Russian-backed rebel groups and to stave off incursions from Russia and Ukrainian separatists, during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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Senate Armed Services Committee member Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, left, joined by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, center, poses questions to Ashton Carter, President Barack Obama's choice to be defense secretary, as he goes before the committee for confirmation to replace Chuck Hagel as Pentagon chief, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) ** FILE **

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Ashton Carter, President Barack Obama's choice to be defense secretary, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination to replace Chuck Hagel as Pentagon chief. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) ** FILE **

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Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain got fed up with protesters during a hearing on Thursday, telling them to "get out of here, you low-life scum." (CNN)

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Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., bangs the gavel to start the committee's hearing to examine global challenges and U.S. national security strategy, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

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U.S. Central Commander Gen. David Petraeus looks on at right as Defense Undersecretary Michele Flournoy testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 16, 2010, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Drew Angerer)

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Defense Undersecretary for Policy Michele Flournoy, left, talks with Marines Lt. Gen. John Paxton, director for operations, the Joint Staff, talk on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Feb. 22, 2010, prior to their testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

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Senate Armed Services Committee members Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, and Sen. Kelly Ayotte, New Hampshire Republican, have criticized the Air Force's decision to retire the A-10 Warthogs in favor of keeping the B-1B aircraft in play as the A-10s are the only aircraft specifically devoted to close air support. Mr. McCain, himself a former Air Force pilot, was incensed upon first learning of the A-10's retirement.