It is now conventional wisdom that Americans do not care why we went to war in Iraq, that it is enough that the world is better off without Saddam Hussein.

We already know that there are those close to James Comey who have a very different take, if there are tapes, of course, that would be the best evidence of what took place. If they exist, Congress needs to get them. If they're not provided willingly, Congress should subpoena them. And if they're not in existence, if this was yet another fabrication by the president, he needs to come clean about it.

Whether we kept a certain number of troops there or pulled out completely, if we can't get the Maliki government to include a large segment of its population in its security forces and protection, then the small amount of forces that we would have left there might have slowed this day, but they wouldn't have prevented it altogether.

Donald Trump and his personal attorney want to lay the foundation to discredit whatever Bob Mueller comes up with. They're essentially engaging in a scorched-earth litigation strategy that is beginning with trying to discredit the prosecutor.

I'm concerned the clock is ticking, and the danger to the American people is still very present.

Winning the war on terrorism will also require a level of moral clarity that can provide a vision for struggling people and nations everywhere.

Notwithstanding these setbacks, the dream of a beautiful American orchestra goes on, and I share Dr. King's faith that each year we move inexorably closer to a magnificent opening night.