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Do you have any regrets? Of course I do.

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
Regrets
Regret
Courses
Course

More quotes by Donald Rumsfeld

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Don't blame the boss. He has enough problems.
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A few. . . critics are the only people I ever heard use the phrase 'imminent threat.' I didn't, the president didn't.
Donald Rumsfeld
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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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Is it likely that an aircraft carrier or a cruise missile is going to find a person?
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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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Don't think of yourself as indispensable or infallible. As Charles De Gaulle said, the cemeteries of the world are full of indispensable men.
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If I know the answer I'll tell you the answer, and if I don't I'll just respond cleverly.
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Don't divide the world into 'them' and 'us.' Avoid infatuation with or resentment of the press, the Congress, rivals, or opponents. Accept them as facts. They have their jobs and you have yours.
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With the press there is no off the record.
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I don't believe anyone that I know in the administration ever said that Iraq had nuclear weapons.
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I didn't advocate invasion...I wasn't asked.
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Don't necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership.
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Don't 'over-control' like a novice pilot. Stay loose enough from the flow that you can observe it, modify, and improve it.
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Being Vice President is difficult. Don't make it tougher.
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We don't seek empires.We're not imperialistic.
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Be precise. A lack of precision is dangerous when the margin of error is small.
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In our system leadership is by consent, not command. To lead a President must persuade. Personal contacts and experiences help shape his thinking. They can be critical to his persuasiveness and thus to his leadership.
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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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The reality is that [Barack] Obama has some 15 countries in the current Libya coalition. President Bush put together close to 50 countries for the Afghan coalition, some 40 countries for the Iraqi coalition, more than 90 countries for the Proliferation Security Initiative and over 90 countries in the Global War on Terror.
Donald Rumsfeld
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Don't speak ill of your predecessors or successors. You didn't walk in their shoes.
Donald Rumsfeld