Probably most fundamental for me when we talk of going to war, we need to think it through carefully, not just for the political, and the geopolitical, and the diplomatic, and the economic consequences, and those are important. But at least for me, this old infantry sergeant thinks about when I was in Vietnam in 1968, someone needs to represent that perspective in our Government as well. The people in Washington make the policy, but it's the little guys who come back in the body bags.
On the recordJanuary 30, 2013
Source
congress.govEditor's note · Context
Hagel emphasizes the need for careful consideration of war's consequences and the perspective of soldiers.
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