Think ahead. Don't let day-to-day operations drive out planning.

The press always wants to know how many people will be killed or how much it will cost, but the answers to those questions are not knowable.

We know where they are. They are in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad.

Plan backwards as well as forward. Set objectives and trace back to see how to achieve them. You may find that no path can get you there. Plan forward to see where your steps will take you, which may not be clear or intuitive.

The Cold War was a war, and we won it.

If in doubt, move decisions up to the President.

The Secretary of Defense is not a super General or Admiral. His task is to exercise civilian control over the Department for the Commander-in-Chief and the country.