"When confronted with internal unrest, a tactic is to look external to a common foe that can be portrayed."
"We are concerned that the growing strength of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) over Iranian politics will result in the militarization of Iranian foreign policy."
"I support the President's budget. I believe that those helicopters are, in fact, critical."
"I will enthusiastically support the President's renomination of you for a second term."
"Isn't it true that any effort to break away local Taliban... requires us similarly to convince those local Taliban that we're committed to this fight?"
"if we just send trainers and don't send more combat troops... then I believe the Afghan people... are going to decide we're essentially on our way out."
"To now-President Obama's credit as far as I'm concerned, he's followed through on those statements."
"Sending more trainers and more combat troops gives us a much higher probability of regaining the initiative in this critical battle."
"Yes, and I am aware that Congress enacted section 1057 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (P.L. 110-417) affirming this position."
"Are you staying or are you going?"
"It's an important national debate that has to happen here in Congress and hopefully throughout the country."