We need to learn from our experiences and take responsibilities for our actions and drive on.

We all have to strive to learn what motivates us, learn from our experiences, and what feels right and what feels wrong. There's a strong component over the years to having formal processes that help to identify lessons that need to be learned, and actions that need to be taken. In other words, how do you find the big idea?

The Afghan people do not take kindly to conquerors.

We cannot kill or capture our way out of an industrial-strength insurgency.

All Americans should take great pride in the men and women serving our nation in Iraq and in the courage, determination, resilience and initiative they demonstrate each and every day. It remains the greatest of honors to soldier with them.

At a certain point, you have to take the rearview mirrors off the bus and focus forward, and that's what we've sought to do.