I feel a special kinship for our military. Because, unfortunately, I became a wartime president. And committed our military in the defense of our country to difficult assignments. I tell people all the time, I don't miss much about being president; I do miss looking in the eyes of people who volunteered to serve. And so not only do I feel a kinship, I feel an obligation and a duty to help.

Some people are going to like the decisions I made, some people are not going to like the decisions that I made. That's just the way it is.

We are not at war with the Afghani people, and we are not at war with Islam, which most Americans respect as a religion of peace.

I'm comfortable moving into the role of elder person.

I am comfortable that the principles that I articulated were never compromised.

Religion is a personal, private matter and parents, not public school officials, should decide their children's religious training. We should not have teacher-led prayers in public schools, and school officials should never favor one religion over another, or favor religion over no religion (or vice versa). I also believe that schools should not restrict students' religious liberties. The free exercise of faith is the fundamental right of every American, and that right doesn't stop at the schoolhouse door.

Reading history while you make history can teach you a lot.