Richard Lugar actually said...

"The Taliban is not the objective; it is still people who are plotting to bomb Washington and New York City again."

"The development of a state that is able to provide a modicum of security and governance to its people is necessary to ensure that American security interests will be preserved without a major U.S. gro..."

"Preventing the return of the Taliban to control of Afghanistan, maintaining stability in Pakistan, and keeping up the pressure against al-Qaeda are all objectives very worthy of American effort."

"Any withdrawal or retreat on our part from the conduct of counterinsurgency and counterterrorism would put that progress at risk, in my opinion."