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

Politics is human beings; it's addition rather than subtraction.

The price of being close to the President is delivering bad news. You fail him if you don't tell him the truth. Others won't do it.

If the staff lacks policy guidance against which to test decisions, their decisions will be random.

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

When business accepts help from the government, it can be like going to bed with a hippopotamus. It's nice and warm for the moment, but then your bedmate rolls over and crushes you.

Five days or five months, but it certainly isn't going to last longer.