Robert Gates: “destabilize not just Afghanistan, not just Pakistan, but potentially the whole region.”

My concern is, we don't have an overriding strategy on the part of the United States in this complex challenge over the next 20 to 30 years.

I soon learned that the only way I could get significant new or additional equipment to commanders in the field in weeks or months, not years, was to take control of the problem myself through special task forces and ad hoc processes.

I think it doesn't make strategic sense.

I think there is a cost. I think it does provide a basis for radicalization in the region.