Actually, our current military presence in Saudi Arabia could be described as more than merely symbolic. But it certainly is not as extensive as it was in the past.

It's going to be some of the hardest, bare-knuckled politics that has taken place ever in the Arab world. They play hardball.

It will be different in different places. In some places, governments are strong, Iraqi units are good, the ethnic balance is benign, (and) they are already running things.

You know as well as I do that counterinsurgency is a very nuanced type of military operation.

Well, the reports are correct that we're conducting very robust military operations on the Afghan side of the border in areas where we think al-Qaida is operating and Taliban remnants are.

I think you also understand that one of the key things that's got to be done in Iraq is to build a mentality of understanding that the military needs to be subordinate to civilian control and respectful of its own people.