Quote

Make decisions about the President's personal security. He can overrule you, but don't ask him to be the one to counsel caution.

Donald Rumsfeld

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Donald Rumsfeld
Age: 88 †
Born: 1932
Born: July 9
Died: 2021
Died: June 29
Author
Businessperson
Diplomat
Former U.S. Secretary Of Defense
Military Officer
Politician
Chicago
Illinois
Donald Henry Rumsfeld
Decisions
Personal
Security
Decision
Asks
President
Overrule
Make
Counsel
Caution

More quotes by Donald Rumsfeld

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The purpose of terrorism is to terrorize. It's to change the behavior of the people that are being terrorized.
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Never assume the other fellow will not do something you wouldn't do.
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Most US presidents since World War II have led military actions without a declaration of war by Congress, though most, if not all, have properly consulted and sought support from Congress. That is the wise thing to do.
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Leave the President's family business to him. You will have plenty to do without trying to manage the First Family. They are likely to do fine without your help.
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... something under $50 billion for the cost. How much of that would be the U.S. burden, and how much would be other countries, is an open question.
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I believe what I said yesterday. I don't know what I said, but I know what I think and I assume it's what I said.
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If there are people who yearn for the days when Saddam Hussein was in power, then I am not among them.
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They may have had time to destroy them, and I don't know the answer.
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It is very difficult to spend federal (the taxpayers') dollars so that the intended result is achieved.
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I'm glad you asked. It has nothing to do with oil, literally nothing to do with oil.
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If in doubt, don't. If still in doubt, do what's right.
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Congress, the press, and the bureaucracy too often focus on how much money or effort is spent, rather than whether the money or effort actually achieves the announced goal.
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Imagine, a September 11 with weapons of mass destruction. It's not 3,000. It's tens of thousands of innocent men, women and children.
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What is needed [to combat terrorism], in my view, is resolve, not retreat courage, not concession. Rather than thinking in terms of an exit strategy, focus on a strategy for success.
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You can have a broad popular democracy movement and have it end being taken over by the most vicious people and the result is you don't end up with free political systems or free economic systems, you end up with a handful of radicals controlling the country.
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I don't know anybody that I can think of who has contended that the Iraqis had nuclear weapons.
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You might be a cunning linguist, but I am a master debater.
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After the German abstention at the UN, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle commented that Germany doesn't always have to stand on the side of its traditional allies. Berlin can look for new partners all over the world.
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Remember where you came from.
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When you raise issues with the President, try to come away with both that decision and also a precedent. Pose issues so as to evoke broader policy guidance. This can help to answer a range of similar issues likely to arise later.
Donald Rumsfeld