I chose to take the oath of office with my personal copy of the Bhagavad Gita because its teachings have inspired me to be a servant-leader, dedicating my life in the service of others and to my country.

Every soldier knows this simple fact: If you don't know your enemy, you will not be able to defeat him.

I've seen firsthand the high human cost of war.

It makes no sense for us to consider going back there and getting involved in what truly is a religious civil war. What real difference would it make on the ground? And secondly, is it in the best interests of the United States to do that? I would say that those questions are not being answered in a compelling way that would cause me to support that.

These days, it's often women in uniform - moms, wives, even grandmothers - who deploy and leave their families behind.

In the military, I learned that 'leadership' means raising your hand and volunteering for the tough, important assignments.

Hopefully the presence in Congress of an American who happens to be Hindu will increase America's understanding of India as well as India's understanding of America.