If Iraq were to descend into chaos, the Europeans would feel the effects just as much as we would.

If you look back at the first Gulf war, the Arabs sent forces, they sent money. So their interests in Iraq are clear, but they're nowhere to be seen now. Why? Because right now, it's dangerous to be seen as supporting the United States.

The UN could help the Iraqi government get on its feet and help the United States withdraw a bit more.

An idea can be as flawless as can be, but its execution will always be full of mistakes.

Because national borders are eroding, because of the growth of non-state actors. It's a different kind of a world. We are tied down by a tiny little country - Iraq. It's amazing, given the disparity in military economic strength. It's a world where most of the big problems spill over national boundaries, and there are new kinds of actors and we're feeling our way as to how to deal with them.

We can't make China a friend, but we can behave to make them an enemy.

Osama bin Laden is going after us to get us out of the region, so he can deal with the regimes that he sees in the region, or replace them with purists.