But the truth of the matter is that there is there is an opportunity for them to participate in the economic and political future of the country and certainly in the security life of the country.

Undoubtedly, there are members of the former regime that are cooperating in some fashion and then there are extremists that are within Iraq that are cooperating with them.

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.

As far as Zarqawi is concerned, there is a network of extremists; it's not just Zarqawi.

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

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

Nobody's more mindful of the sacrifices of our troops than those of us that command them.