Chuck Hagel: “I was against it. I thought the Bush administration had not defined a clear end state for the war in Iraq.”

No other capability we have is more important.

One would have to suspect the motive behind the effort to put together this panel.

It is the biggest responsibility any leader has, to leave the place better than they found it, and I do not think we are doing it right now.

Iraq's continued political progress toward a more inclusive and representative government and its programs of reform and reconciliation will be critical to achieve the progress required.