You're demanding that the political system produces a miracle. Any plan that envisions complete American withdrawal in such a period of time is still a prescription for strategic defeat.

The Afghan campaign has required a lot of base construction, aircraft refueling and several thousand American [personnel]. The costs have been in the general vicinity of $20 billion -- about one-quarter the cost of Desert Storm already -- and it will keep going.

Your political system is actually too democratic. The fact that Americans vote on every bill and proposition can prolong bigotry indefinitely, especially where it is aimed at minority groups.

I think that the idea that you can simply let that situation fester and demand the North Koreans make good on their nuclear weapons program -- and eliminate it prior to any negotiations -- is not a sustainable policy.

I do not think the decision to invade [Iraq] was a mistake, ... I would agree with the Bush administration that Saddam was a nasty enough guy.

It is another indication that the predictions of high casualty levels that were mocked before the invasion have come to pass. The US numbers fluctuate, but they are still quite high. Iraqi security force casualties are higher than any time. The silver lining means the Iraqis are fighting [the insurgency] more, but the security trends don't show much reason for positive sentiment.