If we have a phased redeployment where we're as careful getting out as we were careless getting in, then there's not reason why we shouldn't be able to prevent the wholesale slaughter I think some people have suggested might occur.

Short term, the most important thing is to put people back to work ... If they're working, that means they're paying taxes, that means that they're buying goods and services - and the economy, instead of being on a downward spiral, starts back up on an upward spiral.

Rather than me sort of characterize the appropriateness or inappropriateness of what Donald Trump is doing at the moment, I think what we have to see is how will the President-elect operate, and how will his team operate, when they've been fully briefed on all these issues, they have their hands on all the levers of government, and they've got to start making decisions.

There's nothing that America can't handle if we actually look squarely at the problem. ...Change depends on our actions.

If we aren't willing to pay a price for our values, then we should ask ourselves whether we truly believe in them at all.

Our government shouldn't make promises we cannot keep, but we must keep the promises we've already made.

We're not going to put the cart before the horse and just think by sending more troops, we're automatically going to make Americans safe.