"China is, without question, the largest national security challenge and competitor that we have in the world today."
"They are looking to export an ideology, an authoritarian ideology, and they are also looking to diminish our influence in the world."
"I think it is incredibly important that the United States stay present in the Indo-Pacific region."
"The idea that we can build a military large enough and strong enough to dominate China in the modern world is not realistic and is fraught with danger."
"I believe passionately in representative democracy. I think it works. I think it is the best system of government going."
"It will take strategic patience and it will take continued U.S. engagement."
"These are surrender talks. We are waving the white flag, basically saying to the Taliban, you win, we lose."
"It is, I am afraid to say, folly to think that a full U.S. troop withdrawal is somehow going to make us safer."
"I would urge this committee as it moves ahead to do the right thing, the thing we promised, bring these brave people here."
"I would say off the top of my head, you know, I can't predict the future, but if you tell me I got to bet a hundred dollars one way or the other, I am betting rather confidently that the chaos is goin..."
"The idea that we are going to defeat the Taliban, peace is going to come, and we are going to have a stable government there, most people think is insane."
"I think the American people are saying, for what?"