In a report after visiting Afghanistan, he said, "We need all the high-level diplomatic support we can to master the diplomatic complexities of fighting against an enemy holed up in two countries, as well as navigating the complex regional politics", adding: "Our best estimates show there to be no more than 5,000 al-Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They operate out of areas in southern and eastern Afghanistan and on the Pakistan/Afghanistan border. Do we really need to occupy an entire country of around 30 million people to root out 5,000 enemies?
In a report after visiting Afghanistan, he stated, "We require all high-level diplomatic support to handle the intricate diplomacy of battling an enemy entrenched in two nations, as well as managing the complicated regional politics," and then added: "Our most accurate assessments indicate that there are no more than 5,000 al-Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They operate from regions in southern and eastern Afghanistan and along the Pakistan/Afghanistan border. Do we really need to occupy a country of approximately 30 million people solely to eliminate these 5,000 adversaries?