Caution is an important quality in a leader, but it has to be caution followed by decision. Caution followed by ambivalence can be a weakness.

I don't think I should penalize people who were doing their duty.

Clearly, Russia has lied to the world about what's going on in Ukraine. They have clearly violated the cease-fire agreements.

I suddenly realized at the CIA that I had to make life-and-death decisions about people.

Russians understand strength, and if they feel that their opponents are weak, they will take advantage of it.

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 think the primary message to the world is that the United States is going to remain the strongest military power in the world.