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.

Institutions are imperfect. Governments surely are. People are.

This is eventually how Syria will be resolved - through a political settlement.

We can't ... take that piece of reality in this business and set that aside and say, well, that doesn't count. And the Republicans on my side understand that the majority is in fact up for grabs next year. So there's not a decision made up here that doesn't have that factor coursing through that current.

Nations, great nations have limitations. All nations have limitations. Even great powers have limitations.

I don't think it's a matter of going back and having a review of our process. Our process is about as thorough as there can be. Is it imperfect? Yes. Is there risk? Yes, but we start with the fact that we have an American that's being held hostage and that American's life is in danger and that's where we start. And then we proceed from there.

Peace comes through dealing with people. Peace doesn't come at the end of a bayonet or the end of a gun.