I can't tell you if the use of force in Iraq today will last five days, five weeks or five months, but it won't last any longer than that.

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.

There are a lot of things that are said by people in the military, or civilian life, or in the Congress, or in the Executive Branch, that are their views. And that's the way we live. We're a free people. And that's the wonderful thing about our country.

When cutting staff at the Pentagon, don't eliminate the thin layer that assures civilian control.

You're thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don't. I think that's old Europe.

Listening to both sides does not necessarily bring about a correct judgment.

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.