But it is equally incontrovertible that if our intelligence gathering process is seriously flawed, we had better find out and find out fast if we are to avoid another Sept. 11.

The Gulf states are happy for us to fight and die. That's good for everybody, but the Americans fighting and dying.

And in this community, as in all others, the Golden Rule still applies - we must be act toward other nations as we would have them act towards America.

We still have a problem here in this country of access to airports and airplanes [for terrorists].

I'm just concerned that as long as this caliphate exists, it provides this magnet for radicalization, and we're likely to see more attacks like we have seen in San Bernardino, Chattanooga and elsewhere, and that's the concern I have over pace.

Unquestionably, the world is better off without Saddam.

While our country has made great strides in breaking down the barriers which for so long denied equal opportunity to all Americans, we are not yet the beautiful symphony of brotherhood of Dr. King's dream.