Political Quotes

“our efforts in Iraq are pivotal to our strategic interests in the Middle East and throughout the world. This past Wednesday, Osama Bin Ladin's principal deputy, Aman al-Zawahiri, in his latest video on the internet called for the insurgent groups in Iraq to unite in order to drive out the Americans. Zawahiri has stated consistently that the war in Iraq is his holy jihad and the battleground for establishing a worldwide, Islamo-fascist state. Terrorists like Zawahiri are clear on their goals for Iraq, let us be clear and steadfast in our resolve to defeat their diabolical plans and lay the foundation for a peaceful, free Iraq. As I outlined on the Senate floor earlier this year, Southeast Asia is of vital importance to the economic health and the security of the United States--and I have urged active engagement. Home to over 500 million people and two Muslim democracies, U.S. engagement is essential for strategic, economic and security reasons. I have just returned from my second trip to the region this year. In January of this year, I visited Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, including a tour of Aceh in the wake of the devastating tsunami that hit that part of the country. I have just returned from a trip to the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. Throughout Southeast Asia, I spread the message that America has vital interests in the region and that we will continue to cultivate economic and security ties.…”