Richard Holbrooke: “I share your astonishment that so little was done on this in the past, and I want to commend you and Senator Webb for…”

Afghanistan cannot go forward unless the international community, led by its greatest nation, the United States, continues to fulfill its commitments in the area, beyond combat troops.

I want to underscore the core difference between Vietnam and Afghanistan-Pakistan. And it is 9/11.

I stress again, Senator, the enemies of Pakistan are the same as the enemies of the United States.

We are in Afghanistan and Pakistan because of 9/11, because al-Qaeda and its allies are camped out in western Pakistan.