There's an old saying in the Marine Corps, that a lot of times when you are up to your neck in alligators, you tend to forget that you came to drain the swamp.

I fundamentally, violently agree with your logic here.

the best way for the United States to be understood inside these isolated countries is to do what we can, according to the precepts which we believe as a nation, to open up those societies and let them see the outside world.

This is the division, in terms of the debate.

The United States is a Pacific nation in terms of our history, our culture, our economy, and our national security.

the leading authoritarian states in the world... are engaging more and more in efforts to weaken regional and global institutions that have democracy and human rights as part of their mandates.

I think there is a strong bipartisan commitment to Asia, with specific steps and values that have animated our overall engagement for decades.

I think if you ask many Americans today what is the central focus, regionally, of American foreign policy, they all would say it is South Asia.

The interdependence we have with the Chinese Government.

I think we need to be clear here, it was just signed, as of this month.

I think it is also the view of particularly President Obama and Secretary Clinton that not only is it important to talk about these values, but to live them.

I think it will be very clear that the central arena of historical and strategic challenges and opportunities for the United States is actually in the Pacific.