The truth is that I oppose the Iraq war, just as I opposed the Vietnam War, because these two conflicts have weakened the U.S. and diminished our standing in the world and our national security.

When I was a youngster growing up in South Dakota, we never referred to the national debt, it was always referred to as the war debt because it stemmed from World War I.

When I was in the war, I was lucky that I was in a plane and never saw the carnage close-up.

People didn't have the political guts to stand up against an American war.

I did frequently refer to my war record in World War II, but not in any flamboyant way.