It's never acceptable to target civilians. It violates the Geneva Accords it violates the international law of war and it violates all principles of morality.

When human beings live together conflict is inevitable. War is not.

But does that mean that war and violence are inevitable? I would argue not because we have also evolved this amazingly sophisticated intellect and we are capable of controlling our innate behavior a lot of the time.

If you want to fight a war on drugs sit down at your own kitchen table and talk to your own children.

War is a way of shattering to pieces... materials which might otherwise be used to make the masses too comfortable and... too intelligent.

A man must be both stupid and uncharitable who believes there is no virtue or truth but on his own side.

When I sit at my table to write I never know what it's going to be until I'm under way. I trust in inspiration which sometimes comes and sometimes doesn't. But I don't sit back waiting for it. I work every day.

Your political reputation affects how likely allies are to trust you and what kind of deals they'll offer at the negotiating table. There's also some emotional response in there so factions do bear grudges. Just like the real thing.

If Romney explains why where we are with Obama is unacceptable why whither we are tending is even worse - and why his own alternative path forward is superior - then we trust the American people to make the right choice in November.

In spite of the haze of speculation it is still something of a shock to find myself here coming to terms with an enormous trust placed in my hands and with the inevitable sense of inadequacy that goes with that.