Yes, war is hell. It is awful. It involves human beings killing other human beings, sometimes innocent civilians. That is why we despise war.

The United States is the first nation to regularly conduct strikes using remotely piloted aircraft in an armed conflict. Other nations also possess this technology. Many more nations are seeking it, and more will succeed in acquiring it.

I have a reputation for speaking my mind. I like to think my candor and bluntness will give you the answers.

I'm neither Republican nor Democrat. I've worked for the past five administrations.

Is real, it is serious, it is growing, and it constitutes one of the greatest threats to our national security and, indeed, to global security.

The preservation of our national security and the laws that define us as the United States of America demand that we understand the intersection of the two - indeed, how they reinforce one another.

We are in this business, whether it be intelligence or the government, to protect freedom, democracy and liberty, not to violate that.