No war is over until the enemy says it's over. We may think it over, we may declare it over, but in fact, the enemy gets a vote.

With respect to the outlines of what's in the Army Field Manual, there's no doubt in my mind about the limitations it places not only on the DOD, but on the Central Intelligence Agency. And I'll always comply with the law.

You are part of the world's most feared and trusted force. Engage your brain before you engage your weapon.

In this age, I don't care how tactically or operationally brilliant you are, if you cannot create harmony - even vicious harmony - on the battlefield based on trust across service lines, across coalition and national lines, and across civilian/military lines, you need to go home, because your leadership is obsolete. We have got to have officers who can create harmony across all those lines.

We do everything humanly possible, consistent with military necessity, taking many chances to avoid civilian casualties, at all costs.

The United States has been essentially engaged in an ongoing war that most people date from 2001. That war has taken us to Afghanistan, to Iraq, in a lesser way to other countries - Libya, Somalia, Yemen.

Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet.