John Kerry

We must destroy the networks, and in order for our countries to destroy these criminal networks, we need a short-term plan, a mid-term plan, and a long-term plan.

We have to be very careful about the kind of rhetoric that is used not just because it is simply untrue, but because it makes cooperation much more difficult.

There is no question in my mind about the determination of President Calderon and his government to challenge the cartels.

I commend President Felipe Calderon for his courage and determination in challenging the cartels.

We did a tremendous amount of work looking at the linkages between the Contras and the flow of narcotics.

I come to this issue with a fairly significant background in this area.

This is an issue of global proportions and because it is an issue that involves our relationships abroad.

It was critical to bring the members of this committee to the border region.

The goal of our mission in Afghanistan is to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

I applaud the appointment of Ambassador Holbrooke as Special Envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan as an important step forward.

We must win the support of Afghans across the country in order to help them build a safe, stable, and secure country.

Just throwing more troops onto the battlefield is not a solution.

What's long been missing, in my view, is a coherent U.S. national policy--a clear statement of our objectives and a clear plan for achieving them.

I am very concerned and I think it is incumbent upon not only the President and his administration, but those of us in Congress to be very clear about why we are there, what the objective is, what the exit strategy is.

That was a bold decision by Secretary Clinton to reach down to an Active-Duty officer.

This man is simply one of the most outstanding I have ever met.

That is why Senator Lugar and I will shortly be reintroducing the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act, which seeks to triple nonmilitary aid to the people of Pakistan while holding its security forces more accountable for assistance…

We went into Afghanistan to hunt down al Qaeda and to replace the Taliban rulers because they refused, at that time, to break with al Qaeda and because they harbored those al Qaeda leaders with a legitimate government strong enough--our…

I agree with the President that our primary goal in Afghanistan is a simple one. It is to make sure that Afghanistan does not once again become a launching ground for terrorist attacks against America or our allies.

The American people have not heard enough from their Government about this conflict.

All of us agree that Afghanistan, along with its neighbor Pakistan, represents the central front in the global campaign against terrorism.

Afghanistan's Presidential elections this August will be crucial in restoring faith in the Afghan Government. We will watch closely, and we will work closely with the Afghans in order to make sure that that election is open and fair.

So using that language is--even in this context I think is dangerous. Now maybe the word 'success' is more accurate.

Corruption remains a powerful obstacle to progress. Too often the judicial system and police force drive Afghans to the Taliban. That is unacceptable.

In LTG Karl Eikenberry, the President has chosen an exceptionally skilled and deeply knowledgeable public servant to represent the United States in Afghanistan.