It is easy to get into war, not so easy to get out.

The United States can't impose democracies. We can't impose our will. The Russians found that out in Afghanistan.

This is a complicated time to govern in the world today because of so much going on and it's coming at us at such an unprecedented rate.

Alliances and international organizations should be understood as opportunities for leadership and a means to expand our influence, not as constraints on our power.

There has to be a reason and objective (to air strikes). What does it do to move the effort down the road for a political conversation?

Iraq was a war of choice, like Vietnam.

I took an oath of office to the Constitution, I didn't take an oath of office to my party or my president.