If the United States had not intervened in Afghanistan, then obviously, we would have then allowed the attacks of 9/11 to go unanswered. I don't think most of Americans wanted that to happen.

I owe America more than she has ever owed me.

Only a fool or a fraud talks tough or romantically about war.

I've already heard from some military commanders who feel they've been undercut by the vice president of the United States, and there's a lot of justification for their view.

I have a fundamental belief in the goodness and strength of the American worker. And the American worker is the most productive, the most innovative. America is still the greatest producer, exporter and importer. I have a fundamental belief in the United States of America. And I still believe, under the right leadership, our best days are ahead of us.

There's one big difference between me and the others - I won't take every last dime of the surplus and spend it on tax cuts that mostly benefit the wealthy. I'll use the bulk of the surplus to secure Social Security far into the future to keep our promise to the greatest generation.

America has much to gain in terms of jobs and trade by meeting the growing world demand for advanced, environmentally sound technologies.