In this global war against extremists who use murder as a weapon, Iraq is now the central front.

I don't want to interfere with my successor's presidency.

I can't tell you what it's like to be in Europe, for example, to be talking about the greatness of America. But the true greatness of America are the people.

When it comes to the common rights and needs of men and women, there is no clash of civilizations. The requirements of freedom apply fully to Africa and Latin America and the entire Islamic world. The peoples of the Islamic nations want and deserve the same freedoms and opportunities as people in every nation. And their governments should listen to their hopes.

Laura and I really don't realize how bright our children is sometimes until we get an objective analysis.

People expect those in authority to take on big problems and to solve them. We had an opportunity to reform Social Security in a way that would have protected people's benefits and created a solvent system. Younger workers would be confident that the money they were putting into the system would be available to them when they retired. It was a missed opportunity. I regret that.

It's important that the United States not forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001. I assure you, I'm not going to forget them.