it is a longstanding principle that sitting national security advisers do not testify before the Congress.

Our work has only begun. In our time we have an historic opportunity to shape a global balance of power that favors freedom and that will therefore deepen and extend the peace. And I use the word power broadly, because even more important than military and indeed economic power is the power of ideas, the power of compassion, and the power of hope.

The first Republican I knew was my father and he is still the Republican I most admire. He joined our party because the Democrats in Jim Crow Alabama of 1952 would not register him to vote. The Republicans did. My father has never forgotten that day, and neither have I.

But in terms of Saddam Hussein being there, let's remember that his country is divided, in effect. He does not control the northern part of his country. We are able to keep arms from him. His military forces have not been rebuilt.

Even when you cherish democratic ideals, it is never easy to turn them into effective democratic institutions. This process will take decades.

And we believe that our policies toward Iraq simply are to protect the region and to protect Iraq's people and neighbors.

Defeating human trafficking is a great moral calling of our time...