Arguments of convenience lack integrity and inevitably trip you up.

Oh my goodness gracious, what you can buy off the Internet in terms of overhead photography. A trained ape can know an awful lot of what is going on in this world, just by punching on his mouse, for a relatively modest cost.

The absence of evidence is not necessarily the evidence of absence

We're not running out of [fixed] targets. Afghanistan is.

Visit with your predecessors from previous Administrations. They know the ropes and can help you see around some corners. Try to make original mistakes, rather than needlessly repeating theirs.

Find ways to decentralize. Move decision making authority down and out. Encourage a more entrepreneurial approach.

If you try to please everybody, somebody's not going to like it.