We need to understand what we're saying matters.

We dont want the Taliban to put down roots, or the al Qaeda to put down roots in Afghanistan that can facilitate Afghanistan becoming - once again - a launching pad for international terrorism.

We dont see that the Taliban ultimately can succeed, and its a combination both of what the international community can do to support Afghanistan, not just in the short term, but over the long term.

One would think that if you're anonymous, you'd do anything you want, but groups have their own sense of community and what we can do.

I can't spend a lot of time worrying about the numbers at home. I've got to focus on the mission.

With Hillary Clinton as our commander in chief, our international relations will not be reduced to a business transaction. I also know that our armed forces will not become an instrument of torture and they will not be engaged in murder or carry out other illegal activities.

It's not possible to put into words the sense of loss and grief that comes to a family that loses one of their children.