We reject the use of national security letters to spy on citizens who are not suspected of a crime.

[A]lthough the principle of equality has always been self-evident, it has never been self-executing.

Sometimes people just feel as if we want to try something to see if we can shake things up.

We are very grateful for the vital contributions Germany has made to this fight, training local forces in Iraq, sharing intelligence providing reconnaissance aircraft including the recent deployment of additional NATO AWACS.

We remember the grind of the insurgency -- the roadside bombs, the sniper fire, the suicide attacks. From the 'triangle of death' to the fight for Ramadi; from Mosul in the north to Basra in the south -- your will proved stronger than the terror of those who tried to break it.

All the strands of my life came together and I really became a man when I moved to Chicago.

I'm especially grateful that they're here at a time when the rest of Ireland is focused on the final round of the Six Nations rugby tournament and the last match of the legendary Brian O'Driscoll.