Dick Lugar

So, that's the basis for our security, then, to give a framework for Afghan people to progress.

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. ground presence.

the purpose of war is to build a better peace, but America built nothing in Afghanistan after the Soviet withdrawal.

We can do more than we fear; and that if we had a genuine long-term vision for how to move forward.

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

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

Despite the long-evident need for a coherent and efficient civilian coordination capacity to assist our troops in crisis response, we still don't have one.

The situation in Afghanistan is complex and requires a multifaceted approach.

What they have in common is acknowledging the important role for international civilian agencies in Afghanistan to help create stability.

Congress must now prioritize these parallel budgets and authorities in order to strengthen our effectiveness in the realm of diplomacy and defense.

It is well past time for a different approach.

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.

We need to have quite a pragmatic and moderate path toward that future.

We left Afghanistan in 2003. We spent almost as much money in Iraq in 2008 as we spent in Afghanistan from 2003-2008.

Having reviewed the range of strategies suggested by our experts, it's evident that each has his own perspective on international military forces in Afghanistan.

most Americans believe the United States entered into conflict in Afghanistan because of the presence of al-Qaeda training camps there that were believed to have played a direct role in the attacks on Washington and New York on 9/11.

Each crisis required the deployment of technically proficient civilians familiar with unstable situations.

It is time to take the training wheels off and let the Iraqis define their own future.

Iraqis' ability to keep their own house in order is the key to leaving behind a stable Iraq.

What security do your personnel have, or the people doing the projects?

America must approach Iraq with a dose of humility.

And yet, even the people that we have tried to train and left to provide the security seem to be inadequate for that task.

Iraq today... has become the forgotten war.

The real test remains, not just for Prime Minister Maliki, but for all of Iraq's senior leaders.

Our mission in Iraq is not yet over.