I have tried to maintain civil relationships with everyone I meet - and, even if I violently disagree with them, try to be respectful.

In government, I'm a strong believer in the need for reform of government agencies and departments. They - they have gotten fat and sloppy, and they're not user friendly. They are inefficient. They cost too much.

I don't think any president that I worked with has ever said 'pretty please.

There's a lot of books out there about how you lead change in business, but I've certainly not seen any... on how you do that in public institutions.

There is no international problem that can be addressed or solved without the engagement and leadership of the United States and everybody in the world knows that, its just fact of life. So sometimes I think we could conduct ourselves with a little more humility.

I think that Iran with a nuclear weapon is extremely destabilizing. I think it could precipitate a nuclear arms race in the region.

There will be boots on the ground if there's to be any hope of success in the strategy.