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.

I'm the first secretary of defense that's had to deal with sequestration. I've prepared two budgets that deal with sequestration. And you bring the chiefs together, the leadership of this enterprise together, to work through, how do we then take these cuts? Where do we apply those cuts? Readiness is the first thing that suffers.

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

I have said many times that Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism.

Politics or ideology must not get in the way of sound planning.

The Israeli people must be free to live in peace and security.

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