But as we move from this period of what many Iraqis regard as perceived occupation, we need to move towards one of partnership.

I don't believe Iran is a suicide state.

But clearly the fact that we've gone from zero Iraqi security forces on duty in May to up to 200,000 today is an enormous accomplishment, but it's not enough.

You know as well as I do that counterinsurgency is a very nuanced type of military operation.

Well, the hardest thing to do, as we know from our own experience on 9/11 is protect everything all the time.

You don't build a new power plant in the United States overnight. It takes years to build.

The United States is the most powerful nation on Earth and it just can't walk away from the Middle East and central Asia and the Horn of Africa.