COLUMBIA -- KRCG’s Mark Slavit recently sat down with Missouri’s Senior Sen. Kit Bond for a conversation about his impending retirement and the pressing issues he wants to tackle before he leaves the senate.

Bond told Slavit that he’s had a wonderful 40 years of serving the people of Missouri. He admits it’s been a great challenge. Bond is 70 years old and says it’s time for someone else to take his place.

“It’s time to get somebody younger in there who can continue my work,"Bond said. "I want to be able to do some things on the outside. I’m neither shy nor retiring. I don’t plan to stop what I am doing. I hope to be able to continue to work on many things that I have done in the past.”

The Republican senator is endorsing Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt to take his senate seat. Bond has known Blunt since 1973. Bond says he is proud of his two terms as Missouri Governor and more than 20 years of service in the U.S. Senate. 

Bond says he is ready to do as much as he can before he retires from politics in 2010.

“I intend to be around for a long time," Bond said. "I have an opportunity and a responsibility to get out and travel and listen to people. People don’t hesitate to give me their views. I like hearing it. I’ll be around. I won’t be quite as intense after this.”

Bond has a new book, “The Next Front: Southeast Asia and the Road to Global Peace with Islam.” The book takes readers inside the little known societies of that part of the world. 

Bond says many people don’t realize that Southeast Asia is the world’s largest conglomeration of Muslims. Bond says America also needs to come to terms with radical Islam.

You can read Mark Slavit’s entire interview with Sen. Kit Bond on page 87 in this month’s edition of Inside Columbia magazine.