Robert Gates

The President does not like having countervailing opinions, he does not like being disagreed with.

Development is a lot cheaper than sending soldiers.

He is deeply knowledgeable about the international scene and geopolitics.

He would be candid and honest, willing to tell the President straight from the shoulder what he needs to hear.

I soon learned that the only way I could get significant new or additional equipment to commanders in the field in weeks or months, not years, was to take control of the problem myself through special task forces and ad hoc processes.

Without proper and predictable funding, no amount of reform or clever reorganization will provide America with a military capable of accomplishing the missions it's assigned to.

the real problem with United States policy in the Middle East is the lack of a clear strategy.

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.

the only way I could get significant new or additional equipment to commanders in the field in weeks or months--not years--was to take control of the problem myself through special task forces and ad hoc processes.

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?'

My concern is, we don't have an overriding strategy on the part of the United States in this complex challenge over the next 20 to 30 years.

We want everything that's possible, and a lot of things that aren't possible, in a new system.

Senator Kaine will recall the reaction when we--when I shuttered Joint Forces Command in Norfolk.

it's a terrible way to budget. I mean, it is a gimmick.

we always discover . . . that we [go] too far in cutting

turbulent, unstable, and unpredictable times have recurred to challenge U.S. leaders regularly since World War II

the cost in treasure and in the blood of our young men and women is always far higher than if we had remained strong and prepared all along

I think that there is a morale problem.

And the then-Governor.

the way the things ought to operate is that if there is a sense on the Hill, a majority view, that the budget needs to be cut to reduce the deficit, you go through regular order of business

Well, fundamentally, and I'm not kidding, it can be found within the two square miles that encompass the Capitol building and the White House.

If you find $100 billion--if you find the cut, if you meet the target that I've given you, and then you show me new military capabilities or expanded military capabilities that are actually tooth, I'll give you the money back to invest in…

the role of Congress itself.

We cannot kill our way to victory in these situations.

My concern is that I don't see an overreaching--or overriding strategy on the part of the United States with this complex challenge for the next 20 or 30 years.