Robert Gates: “Most governments lie to each other. That's the way business gets done.”

This is a Department that principally plans for war. It is not organized to wage war, and that is what I am trying to fix.

I think appearances do matter.

My staff and I have learned that it was nearly impossible to get accurate information and answers to questions such as, 'How much money did you spend?' and, 'How many people do you have?'

I'm kind of pessimistic for the near term.