My father said I was perfectly suited for Washington because I've always worked around nuts.

If the Iraqis fail to implement the reforms, if they fail to get a handle on the violence, there's nothing the United States can do, militarily or otherwise, that can solve those problems. They have to assume the primary responsibility to govern themselves.

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

I know that young people sometimes, caught up in the moment, make some very foolish decisions.

Obama really does recognize the threats that are out there; I think he understands the world. He understands the role of America in that troubled world.

You don't deploy forces into harm's way without knowing what's going on.

I mean, the Taliban, my view is that they have been weakened.