There are a lot of people who lie and get away with it, and that's just a fact.

There is no question but that when one is engaged militarily that there are going to be unintended loss of life.

Don't think of yourself as indispensable or infallible. As Charles De Gaulle said, the cemeteries of the world are full of indispensable men.

Arguments of convenience lack integrity and inevitably trip you up.

If in doubt, move decisions up to the President.

If you foul up, tell the President and correct it fast. Delay only compounds mistakes.

To gain support in U.S. Congress and from other nations requires clarity, an acceptable mission and an explicit outcome.