The president of the United States is the commander in chief, and the people who work with him at the National Security Council are his arm in working with the Defense Department. And, quite frankly, they have responsibility for all of the government. We are one component of the government.

I’m a United States senator. I’m not an Israeli senator.

[Sheehan] deserves some consideration, and I think that should have been done right from the beginning.

All I can do is present what I think is in the best interest of this country and how I can best serve this country and the president of the United States. And I feel very good about that opportunity I've had.

No one person leads alone - can't do it, it's impossible. It doesn't make any sense. You need a team.

There's always a balance, I think, any administration has to find in not just the military but in any agency of government.

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?