Political Quotes

“I rise today to share with our colleagues remarks I have made recently at the Atlantic Council, the Council on Foreign Relations, and other forums regarding a role NATO should consider by joining others seeking to achieve a diplomatic resolution of the potential nuclear weapons threat posed by Iran. I have long been, and remain to this day, a steadfast supporter of NATO. No alliance, since World War II, has achieved a more successful, steadfast record of achieving peace. I applaud NATO for embracing the concept of ``out of area'' missions. In Iraq, despite continuing violence, a new unified government is emerging. Even with the differences of opinion among NATO nations related to Iraq, NATO did step forward to participate in the important mission of training Iraqi security forces. There is no better example of NATO undertaking important ``out of area'' missions than the leadership NATO is providing in the International Security Assistance Force, ISAF, in Afghanistan. Recently I was in Afghanistan and saw firsthand how ISAF is expanding its reach to provide security and stability throughout Afghanistan. ISAF forces are accepting risks in the face of a rising number of attacks, while the new Government forges ahead putting down roots of democracy so that Afghanistan can take its place among the free nations of the world.…”