I read a ton of paper every day. I read the newspapers, I read my intelligence materials, I read all the briefing materials. I read the newspaper in hard copy.

Bashar al-Assad and those who still stand by him are now responsible for the deaths of more than 20,000 in Syria.

I spend every day up at the United Nations where I have to interact with 192 other countries. I know how well the United States is viewed.

One can't erase the tremendous burden of apartheid in 10 years, 20 years, I believe, even 30 years.

Iran's economy is now shrinking by 1 percent a year. Its oil production is down 40 percent.

The United States really only accounts for about 3 percent of the economic engagement with Russia. Europe is 40 percent, and so Europe's contribution to this pressure is far more than symbolic. It's very practical. And that's one of the many reasons why we have worked hard to remain in close coordination with our European partners.

Progress is the product of human agency. Things get better because we make them better. Things go wrong when we get too comfortable, when we fail to take risks or seize opportunities.