I don't sense that today. I don't think it relates to whether--you know, what the personality of the President is.

You have very few tools left if we slip back into recession.

I think it is absurd to think that the American people would be all gung ho for another war in the Middle East if only we had a President with a different personality.

At least this President is willing to cause us to pay a diplomatic and economic price to control Iran, if not a price in the loss of American troops on the ground.

The Maliki and the politicians of Baghdad are less than inspiring.

Well, the refinery doesn't give you oil.

So basically of the forces that control territory in the area--Kurd, Alawite, Sunni, and Shi'ite--it is the Islamic State that has by far the least oil per capita.

Iran, I think, continues to be the greatest threat to us in the Middle East.

I would simply say that no American died in Iraq or Syria today, and there are many policies available to us which will cost us substantially in blood and treasure.

We have seen a Mr. Baghdadi with incredible ego declare himself caliph.

At some point there will be peace. When that peace arrives, we may see an Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon that looks like Lebanon.

I fear that--and I want to correct the record on this--that some of the opening statements seemed to be blinded by invective for the President.