The Afghans have to decide what Afghanistan looks like. Its not about the U.S., its about Afghanistan.

Jim Mattis

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Thirty days from now we want to see everybody around a peace table based on a ceasefire, based on a pullback from the border and then based on ceasing dropping of bombs that will permit the( UN) special envoy, Martin Griffiths -- he's very good, he knows what he's doing -- to get them together in Sweden and end this war.

We've got to move toward a peace effort here, and you can't say we're going to do it sometime in the future. We need to be doing this in the next 30 days. We've admired this problem for long enough down there, and I believe that Saudi Arabia and the Emirates are ready, and in fact had the Houthis not walked out of the last effort that Martin Griffiths had going, we'd probably be on our way there right now.

We refuel probably less than... I think 20 % of their aircraft. They have their own refuelers, by the way.

The contemptuous words about the President attributed to me in The Woodward book were never uttered by me or in my presence. While I generally enjoy reading fiction, this is a uniquely Washington brand of literature, and his anonymous sources do not lend credibility.

We always keep an eye on the submarines at sea and I prefer not t... by Jim Mattis

We always keep an eye on the submarines at sea and I prefer not to say any more than that.

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We are stronger today than we were a month ago or a year ago because of the deliverables that came out of that (NATO) summit.

Norway's leadership in the Nordic region and especially up in the Arctic where you serve as NATO's sentinel ... You are definitely contributing beyond your weight class.

... (NATO) is stronger today than it was yesterday, stronger today than it was a month ago, stronger today than it was a year ago.

This is an important time in the history of China and the United States as we work our relationship forward.

The Department of Defense remains steadfastly committed to working with Taiwan to provide the defense articles and services necessary to maintain sufficient self defense consistent with our obligation set out in Relations Act.

This decision was taken to create space for our diplomats to negotiate strongly and increasing the prospects for a peaceful solution on the peninsula, at the same time, we maintain a strong collaborative defensive stance to ensure our diplomats continue to negotiate from a position of unquestioned strength.

We're in the midst of very unprecedented negotiations right now with North Korea. But in this dynamic time, the longstanding alliance between Japan and the United States stands firm.

I note with respect the blue lapel pin you wear, and we're with y... by Jim Mattis

I note with respect the blue lapel pin you wear, and we're with you.

Going forward, we obviously look at the actions of China, but I am going there to do a lot of listening and identification of common ground and uncommon ground on the strategic level at this time, i did not want to immediately go in with a certain preset expectation of what they are going to say.

We'll provide whatever support the Department of Homeland Security needs in order to house the people they have under their custody.

We're not going to get into the political aspect. Providing housing, shelter for those who need it is a legitimate governmental function.

The large, joint, combined exercises have been suspended. ... We'll see if the continuing negotiations keep them that way.

The details are being worked out ... about exactly how much capacity they need at the two bases, what other kinds of facilities they need built.

Providing shelter for people without shelter, we consider that to be a logistics function that is quite appropriate.

Along the path going there, certainly it'll be a little rocky, a little bumpy at times, but so far I do not anticipate any effect in the security domain.