There's Always A Balance, I

I Would Not Trade America's Position In The World - Our Ledger, Our Debts And Assets - For Any Country In The World. There Isn't A Country In The World Even Close To America.

Bogging Down Large Armies In Historically Complex, Dangerous Areas Ends In Disaster.

I'm The First Secretary Of Defense That's Had To Deal With Sequestration. I've Prepared Two Budgets That Deal With Sequestration. And You Bring The Chiefs Together, The Leadership Of This Enterprise Together, To Work Through, How Do We Then Take These Cuts? Where Do We Apply Those Cuts? Readiness Is The First Thing That Suffers.

Nations, Great Nations Have Limitations. All Nations Have Limitations. Even Great Powers Have Limitations.

My Overall Worldview Has Never Changed: That America Has And Must Maintain The Strongest Military In The World, That We Must Lead The International Community To Confront Threats And Challenges Together, And That We Must Use All Tools Of American Power To Protect Our Citizens And Our Interests.