Every Sailor has the potential to lead," said Mullen, "I don't care if it's a seaman recruit or someone higher ranking than myself. Where there's a will, there's a way.

We think we're near energy independence - nothing could be further from the truth. We're in much better shape now, but the price of a barrel of oil is going to be controlled by the Middle East for the next 10, 20, 30 years for sure.

I worry a little bit about - quote - "regime change." We haven't had a great deal of success with that in years. That's just really difficult.

Our people sacrifice a lot for their country, including their lives. None of them should have to sacrifice their integrity as well.

The best day was when we got bin Laden.

I think anybody in our - in the, in the national security apparatus has, has got to take full cognizance of their responsibility for the safeguarding of classified information.

The truth is, we live in deeds, not days; in actions and thoughts and feelings, not heartbeats.