It is well known that Hezbollah acts as a proxy for Iran--specifically, of the Qods Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. These determined and deadly enemies of the United States have made substantial progress in the last six years to expand their influence and operations in Latin America.

There is cause for celebration in the death of a deeply evil man with much blood on his hands and more innocent deaths in his mind, but no cause to waver in our determination to press forward in this conflict against a determined foe.

There is an urgent need to reform the homeland security grant system toward a risk-based system, which would include removing the provision for minimum state allocations.

This is House budget week, and with it comes the strong possibility that Republican leaders will bow to the demands of their die-hards and try to alter the deal reached in the Budget Control Act last year that ended the impasse on the debt limit and set caps on discretionary domestic and defense spending.

Carrying out the missions associated with securing four fundamental interests has been the raison d'être of U.S. military forces under presidents of both parties in times of conflict, of Cold-War competition, and in moments of relative stability and peace. Taken together, they define America's role in the world.

The most significant threat to our national security is the debt-limit deal Congress approved last week. The all-cuts, no tax increases, deal was a significant victory for fiscal conservatives. Now it has become clear what the price of that victory was -- deep, destructive cuts in national defense.

It is ridiculous to suggest that the chairman of the House committee responsible for homeland security is out of line to investigate the subject of radicalization in the American Muslim community.

Despite a major reorganization of homeland-security and intelligence functions in the executive branch, Congress"s committee system looks much as it did before Sept. 11.