We recognize and respect the leadership role that you have taken in this country politically and from an economic standpoint as well as a security standpoint,

We have an orientation that tends to make us think that everything is our responsibility and that we should be doing this. It is the Iraqis' country, 28 million of them. They are perfectly capable of running that country.

Obviously, the United States does not have a responsibility when a sovereign country engages in something that they disapprove of,

Every country should be tired of going to war. War is a terrible thing. If I had been in Congress, as much as I would be inclined naturally to be supportive of a president, any president, I would have voted no, had the issue come to a vote.

... something under $50 billion for the cost. How much of that would be the U.S. burden, and how much would be other countries, is an open question.

The Secretary of Defense is not a super General or Admiral. His task is to exercise civilian control over the Department for the Commander-in-Chief and the country.

The United States is not going to stay in that country and occupy it .... So we'll do our job, we'll do it well and we'll leave,

Then there are three or four countries that have said they won't do anything. I believe Libya, Cuba and Germany are ones that have indicated they won't help in any respect.

They have to do it for themselves, ... There isn't an Iraqi that comes into this country and visits with me that doesn't say that. They know that. They know that they're the ones that are going to have to grab that country, and it's time.