When i took office, more than a 180,000 people were serving in afghanistan. Today all of the troops are out of iraq. More than 60,000 have come home from afghanistan. Our troops have moved to a support role. Together with our allies we will complete the mission and americas longest war will finally be over. [ applause ] president obama after 2014, we will support a unified afghanistan as it takes responsibility for its own future. If the Afghanistan Government signs a security agreement, a small force of americans could remain with nato allies to train and assist forces and to train people to pursue al qaeda. Our relationship with afghanistan will change, but our resolve with terrorist that do not launch attacks against our country. [ applause ] president obama the fact is that danger remains. When we put al qaedas core leadership, the path evolves in other parts of the world. We have to keep working with partners to disrupt and disable those networks. In syria, we will support the opposition that rejects the agenda of terrorist networks. Here at home, we will keep strengthening defenses and attack cybsi attack. And we will to invest in the missions for the future. Applause ] we president obama we have h t remain vigilant. But i strongly believe our leadership and security cannot depend on the outstanding military alone. As commander in chief, i have used force when needed to protect the American People. And i will never hesitate to do so as long as i hold office. But i will not send the troops into harms way unless it is necessary nor will i allow our sons and daughter to be in openended conflict. We must fight the battles that need to be fought. Not largescale fights that drain our resources. Even as we pursue terrorist networks and by building the capacity of the foreign partners, america must move off a permanent war footing. Th [ applause ] president obama that iats w i have imposed prudent limits on the use of drones. We will not be safer if people abroad think we strike without regard for consequence. That is why i will reform our surveillance programs because the vital work of our Intelligence Community depends on confidence. The privacy of ordinary people isnt being violated. Of ordinary people are not being violated. And [ applause ] president obama and with the Afghanistan War ending, this needs to be the Year Congress lifts detainees. Counter terrorism not just through intelligence and military actions but by remaining true to our constitutional ideals and setting an example for the rest of the world. You see, in a world of complex threats, our security, our leadership, depends on all elements of our power, including strong and principled diplomacy. American diplomacy has rallied more than 50 countries to prevent Nuclear Materials from falling into the wrong hands and allowed us to reduce our own reliance on cold war stockpiles. American diplomacy, backed by e threat of force is why chemical weapons are being eliminated. And we will continue to work with the International Community to usher in the future the Syrian People deserve, a future free of dictatorship and fear. As we speak, american diplomacy is supporting israelis and palestinians that they engage in the difficult but necessary talks to end the conflict there, to achieve dignity and an independent state for palestinians and lasting peace and security for the state of israel a jewish state that knows america will always be at their ide. And it is american diplomacy, backed by pressure, that has halted the progress of Irans Nuclear program and rolled back parts of that program for the very first time in a decade. As we gather here tonight, iran has begun to eliminate its stockpile of higher levels of enriched uranium. Its not installing advanced centrifuges. Unprecedented inspections help the world verify every day that iran is not building a bomb. And with our allies and partners, were engaged in negotiations to see if we can peacefully achieve a goal we all share preventing iran from obtain agnew clear weapon. These negotiations will be difficult. They may not succeed. We are cleareyed about irans support for terrorist organizations like hezbollah which threaten os our threatens our allies and were clear about the mistrust between our nations, mistrust that cannot be wished away. But these negotiations dont rely on trust. Any longterm deal we agree to must be based on verifiable action that convinces us and the International Community that iran is not build agnew clear bomb. If john f. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan could negotiate with the soviet union, then surely a strong and confident america can negotiate with less powerful adversaries today. The sanctions that we put in place help make this opportunity possible. But let me be clear. If this Congress Sends me a new sanctions bill now that threatens to derail these talks, i will veto it. For the sake of our national security, we must give diplomacy a chance to succeed. If irans leaders do not seize this opportunity, then i will be the first to call for more sanctions and stand ready to exercise all options to make sure iran does not build a nuclear weapon. Fie rans leaders do seize the chance, and well know soon enough, then iran could take an important step to rejoin the community of nations and we will have resolved one of the leading security challenges of our time ithout the risks of war. Finally, lets remember that our leadership is defined not just by our defense against threats, but by the enormous opportunities to do good and promote understanding around the globe. Forge greater cooperation. Expand new markets. Free people from fear and want. And no one is better positioned to take advantage of those opportunities than america. Our alliance with europe remains the strongest the world has ever known. From tu knee shah to burma, were supporting those who are willing to do the hard work of building democracy. In ukraine, we stand for the principle that all people have the right to express themselves freely and peacefully. But they have a saying that they have a say in their countrys future. Across africa, were bringing together businesses and governments to double access to electricity and help end extreme poverty. In the americas, were building new ties with commerce but were also expanding cultural and educational exchanges among young people. And we will continue to focus on the asiapacific where we support our allies, shape a future of greater security and prosperity, and extend a hand to those devastated by disaster. As we did in the philippines when our marines and civilians rushed to aid those battered by a typhoon. And who were greated with words like, we will never forget your kindness. And god bless america. We do these things because they help promote our longterm security. And we do them because we believe in the inherent dignity and equality of every human being, regardless of race or religion. Creed or sexual orientation. Next week, the world will see one expression of that commitment when team u. S. A. Marches the rhett, white, and blue into Olympic Stadium and rings home the gold. My fellow americans, no other country in the world does what we do. On every issue, the world turns to us. Not simply because of the size of our economy or our military might, but because of the ideals we stand for. And the burdens we bear to advance them. No one knows this better than those who serve in uniform. As this time of war draws to a close, a new generation of heroes returns to civilian life. Well keep slashing that backlog so our veterans receive the benefits they earned and our Wounded Warriors receive the health care, including the Mental Health care, that they eed. Well keep working to help all our veterans translate their skills and leadership into jobs here at home and we will all continue to join forces to honor and support our remarkable military families. Let me tell you about one of those families i have come to know. Hemsberg, an ey army ranger, on omaha beach on dday. Along with some rangers, he walked me through the ceremony. He was a an impressive young man, an easy manner, sharp as a tack. We took some pictures, i told him to stay in touch. A few months later, on his 10th deployment he was nearly killed by a massive roadside bomb in his comrades found him face down in the canal face down. For months he laid in a coma. Next time i met him, he couldnt speak. He could barely move. Over the years, he has endured hours of surgeries, grueling rehab. He is still blind in one eye, still struggles on his left side. But slowly, steadily, with the support of caregivers like his dad greg and the Community Around him, he has grown stronger, he has learned to speak again, stand again and walk again and walking toward the day when he can serve his country again. My recovery has not been easy, he says. Nothing in life thats worth anything is easy. Corey is here tonight and like the army he loves, like the america he serves, sergeant neverclass corey ramsburg gives up and he does not quit. The president my fellow americans, my fellow americans, men and women like corey remind us that america has never come easy. Our freedom, our democracy have never been easy. Sometimes we stumble. We make mistakes. We get frustrated or discouraged. But for more than 200 years, we have put those things aside and placed our collective shoulder to the wheel of progress. To create and build and expand the possibilities of individual achievement, to free other nations from tyranny and fear. To promote justice and fairness and equality under the law so that the words set to paper by our founders are made real for every citizen. The america we want for our kids , a rising america where work is plentiful and prosperity is widely shared and opportunity lets us go as far as our dreams, none it of it is easy. And if we Work Together, if we summon what is best in us, the way corey summoned what is best in him, with our feet planted intoy but our eyes looking the future. God bless you. And god bless the United States of america. Thank you so much. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] and the president spoke for an hour on the fifth state of the union address. Just off the House Chamber where the house and senate meet is stachuary hall and that is where we will tonight. Joining us first is represent eddy bernice johnson. How did the speech compare to the past . It made me feel responsible to get something done. It has been easy to get met with everything being met with no. But when i saw cory, i realized much of what can be done is up to you. I will try harder to wok with the opposite work party because we need to achieve the stem education, we need to achieve the opportunity for job training and all of the things we know we need to go forward to improve the economy and bring jobs back to america. It takes all of us. You are the vice chair of the ranking democrat on the science committee, right . How closely do you work with the chairman . I try hard. And i will try harder. It hasnt been a great experience up until now because i believe in research and looking forward to the future and looking out to the future. We have not done that well. But i am not going at a give up. Thank you very much. Now from the other side of the aisle, we will grab the majority whip of the United States senate dick durban. What did you think . I thought it was powerful. He talked about unemployed folks getting back to work and these who are working making enough to get by and making sure you have health insurance. These are thing real families talk about. Politicians might not. But the president brought it up. Three times he said he would act without the congress jobs, infrastructure and education. He said i am not going to wait for you, but i am willing to work with you. Hes going to do everything in his power to move his agenda. Final question, he talked about investments, didnt mention the deficit. He talked about the deficit cut in half. And made the point when americans are back to work and paying taxes, the deficit will come down. Thank you for your time. Coming up next, we have from the house side, the vice chair of the Democratic Caucus a democrat from new york. Was there any point the president said you disagree with . I thought the president nailed everything. Optimistic and you can see the use of humor that was good. Very positive speech and uplifting for the American People. That is what he had to do. I think he came through with flying colors. Where is your district and what he had to say, how does that affect yours . I am from queens new york and parts extend in the bronx. Primarily in queens and east bronx. He is talking about a more positive america. Not just about new york or the queens, it is about the entire country. I think using the speech is an opportunity to uplift the American People. I think he did that tonight. We are looking to be uplifted and how we will improve the economy and what we can do. Six. The need for congress to act and work with him and where Congress Fails to do is john that he will step been and provide direction at the executive level. Finally, he focused on the fact that we should be optimistic, that we are, you know, coming out of a deep recession. My home state of nevada as 9 of employment. People have been hit hard, and that is why we need the extension of the unemployment, the increase of the minimumwage and the focus on policies that really help the middle class. Thank you for your time this evening. We will probably see you next monday night under special order. Thanks, congressman. Joining us now from the other side of the rotunda is senator lindsay gramm, republican of south carolina. Senator gramm, five pages of the president s 20 page speech devoted to foreign policy. Incredibly disappointed. The picture the president paid is not remotely similar to what is really going on. Contagions. This award in syria is a humanitarian disaster, affecting lebanon. 800,000. The king of jordan is under siege. It is affecting our lack of troops in the rock. You forget to tell us that barack is falling apart and al qaeda is on the rise. National security situation in the mideast. Not remotely connected to the world as i see it. What about his call to talk with the run . At the end of the day the goal is to disarm the iranians and implicate this does not dismantle one centrifuge. As the removed one else of interest uranium, and it does not deal with the plutonium reactor in terms of dismantling. The final deal should be no in richmond ability, no plutonium producing reactor and remove all uranium. The interim deal is so far away from what i think is an acceptable deal. I am very worried. Sanctions are falling apart. Delegation after delegation is going to do business. There the reason were at the table, but if we dont reinforce sanctions and think it will fall apart. Three times the president said he would act with the without congress. Thats up to the president. That was levying courage and a foreignpolicy, if you leave a residual force behind to that commit the same mistake, i would support that. There are no troops left afghanistan in 2015. Executive orders, the president is going to have to make that position. Of is your Campaign Going . So far so good. And also from south carolina, someone who is returning to congress, former governor, former congressman, republican of south carolina. Congressman, your return, has it been any different . At the one of the things that jumps out at you is the erosion or destruction of what was once called a regular order. Heal idea of going through the year the budgetary process in washington is something that i saw 13 years zealand and rusting since i came back with what did you think of the president s speech . I thought it was lot of words and short on details. Think that there are some dreams out there that every american will agree with in terms of equality and opportunity, but the devil is in the details in terms of how you get there, and that it does see a lot of flesh out. The president said then he would act with of congress. I think that is a real mistake. I think that our Founding Fathers were deliberate about setting up a system of checks and balances, a system that forced of us to talk to each other with there we agree or disagree and a given subject. This idea of acting unilaterally is really at odds with our constitutional tradition that eritreas enjoyed. It is a real mistake. When you realized ive been using a change in partisanship . It is still too early to tell. Or about six months into it. I would say the easy answer is yes. A lot of the conversations that take place on the floor are very much the way they would have been 13 years ago, almost 20 years ago. I would say let me gather a few more facts over a few more months of of a fuller answer. At this point the quick answer is yes, but i think as you get deeper into it and the social or finally the president said Climate Changes affect. Well, facts are debatable phase in washington these days. That think that it is a fact that the climate may be changing. The . As it relates to policymakers a muscle in d. C. Is what is the cost. Is a holy man made, partially manmade. Where we on the continual. I think that that has a lot of of sheets windy hill in the policy that will be debated here in washington. Welcome back to washington. Thank you for spending a few minutes with the spirit of the appreciate. Well get to you in one second, a promise. Thank you for stopping. Congressman kevin brady is joining us next. You can see, its quite is cramped here is statuary hall. A lot of media folks, a lot of members of congress. A friend will be joining us as well of a few minutes. I know kevin brady his chair of the joint economic committee, republican, raised in texas. Congressman, the president used the Word Investment quite a bit tonight. Unfortunately in washington that normally means spending directed by the government and oftentimes it just does not hit the mark which is one of the reasons the stimulus failed while a lot of the benefits of all the spending is really going to wall street. The middle class. At think we needed changing course. Where did you agree with the president had to say