We must forge a deep and lasting partnership with Pakistan, and with nations around the world, to root out and destroy al Qaeda and its affiliates.

It's unacceptable that women in this country are losing thousands of dollars each year.

We are not looking to simply abandon them to their own devices.

It is intolerable for us to have Al Qaeda base camps maintained in their territories that are planning to attack the U.S. homeland.

Today's attack demonstrates the grave and urgent threat that al Qaeda and its affiliates pose to the United States, to Pakistan, and to the security of all nations.

That's why I helped pass a law in Illinois to give 330,000 more women protection from paycheck discrimination.

My criteria for an achievable and sustainable situation would be one in which you are not seeing mass violence in Iraq.

The United States must lead a truly global effort to prevail against al Qaeda and their hate-filled ideology.

I do think that conditioning some of our military on the idea that you need to build a security apparatus that gains the confidence of all parties concerned as opposed to simply being an arm of one faction.

I strongly condemn the tragic terrorist attack in Pakistan, and my thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

Now is the time to refocus our efforts on defeating al Qaeda and securing the American people.