We either believe in the dignity of the individual, the rule of law, and the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment, or we don't. There is no middle ground.

Winning in Afghanistan is having a country that is stable enough to ensure that there is no safe haven for Al Qaida or for a militant Taliban that welcomes Al Qaida. That's really the measure of success for the United States.

I don't usually comment on columnists' ideas of what I'm thinking. That's a dangerous game to get into.

If we don't do something to simplify the tax system, we're going to end up with a national police force of internal revenue agents.

We are a nation at war. This is also a time for hard choices. It's about ensuring that we are able to prevail in the conflicts in which we are now engaged. But it's also about being able to be strong and disciplined in applying our nation's limited resources to defending America.

I don't think there's any question that America is safer as a result of the bin Laden operation.

The fundamental premise is that neither the United States or the international community is going to allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.