Without making some bipartisan reforms to these programs, can we do it without looking at those issues?

As we look at putting our country on a fiscally sustainable path, I look at your projected outlook where deficits go down, but then they go back up to over trillion-dollar deficits in 2025.

We are in a position where that is a huge chunk of 12 percent that does nothing for us, on what we are spending that money?

what we need is greater prosecutions and an ability of the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to prosecute these individuals.

I intend to work very closely with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to help maintain the balance or hopefully restore the balance of providing the care in a timely way.

I certainly share the view that it is important for us to keep our coalition together if we are going to be successful.

Well, if you would, talk a little bit more about that because one of the things that I thought was very telling was when Russia canceled the missile deal with Iran several years ago.

Can you also--shortly after the JPOA was negotiated, there was a lot of noise in some of the European capitals about trade deals with Iran and trade delegations that were being sent to Iran.

I think when we have reports that come out that show that China is losing its wetlands at a rate that means that it is no longer going to be able to feed its population, that it is going to look elsewhere to do that and that will have…

So while there is short-term convergence with the United States in countering ISIS, I think Iran and the United States are going to be at loggerheads over the long-term trajectory for both countries.

The fact is, people are still observing whether, there were actually 'more moderate' folks elected and the policies are actually going to change.

So the Russians are actually helping on that front?

I think our efforts to counter Iran really need to start with Syria not only because Syria is perhaps the most important conflict we see.

I think it is important that when they do something that is irresponsible and destabilizing, that there is a price that they pay.

I think that is one of the underlying tenets of our foreign policy or certainly should be.

we have to recognize that we have not made a strategic shift in the Middle East with Iran. These have been transactional.

You cannot win these militarily. You have to win them militarily. You have to create a military stalemate. But that is only the starting point for a new power-sharing arrangement and building of new institutions that can actually govern…

I think the policy that we are trying to pursue in Syria is nonsensical.