Don't be a bottleneck. If a matter is not a decision for the President or you, delegate it. Force responsibility down and out. Find problem areas, add structure and delegate. The pressure is to do the reverse. Resist it.

See that the President, the Cabinet and staff are informed. If cut out of the information flow, their decisions may be poor, not made, or not confidently or persuasively implemented.

The success of an organization will depend on the people you surround yourself with.

NATO member states vary dramatically in their capability and in their political steadfastness.

The United States, as all you know, did not come to Iraq for oil, not to occupy. We came here only to help.

When there happens to be a weapon of mass destruction suspect site in an area that we occupy and if people have time, they'll look at it.

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.