“In this century, we are shifting away from the tendency to equate sheer numbers of things—tanks, troops, bombs, etc.—with capability. If a commander has a smart bomb that is so precise that it can do the work of eight dumb bombs, for example, the fact that his inventory is reduced from 10 dumb bombs to five smart bombs does not mean his capability has been reduced. Indeed, his capability has been significantly increased.”—Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, Senate Armed Services Committee, Sept. 23.
Archbishop Criticizes War “Everyone can see that [military action] did not lead to a safer world, either inside or outside Iraq.”—Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, secretary of the Holy See’s relations with states, speech to UN General Assembly, Sept. 29.
Safety First “Last year, we witnessed the tragic death of 22 colleagues in Baghdad. We do not wish to witness the same again. … We cannot condone the deployment of UN staff to Iraq in view of the unprecedented high level of risk to the safety and security of staff.”—Letter to Secretary-General Kofi A. Annan from unions representing UN employees, Los Angeles Times, Oct. 7.
News to Him
The Magic of Intelligence “It requires seven consecutive miracles for NSA to get communication out there from the global telecommunications network and bring it back and get it in front of an analyst who can turn those beeps and bleeps into something that is useful for American safety and security.”—Lt. Gen. Michael V. Hayden, director of the National Security Agency, New York Times, Oct. 14.
Basic Fact “There is only one side for sensible and decent people to be on in this conflict.”—British Prime Minister Tony Blair about the Iraq War, New York Times, Sept. 20.
If the Other Side Wins “Amid the losses, amid the ugliness, the car bombings, the task is to remain steadfast. Consider the kind of world we would have if the extremists were to prevail.”—Rumsfeld, speech to Council on Foreign Relations, Oct. 4.
Reviving Space Based Radar “We think it is absolutely necessary to have a Space Based Radar. I firmly believe that we need to continue this.”—Gen. John P. Jumper, Air Force Chief of Staff, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, Oct. 8.
Helping Taiwan Hampers Peace “We are firmly opposed to the sales of weapons by any foreign country to Taiwan, which is a part of China, because we don’t think it is in the interest of our peaceful efforts towards the resolution of the Taiwan question.”—Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Washington Times, Oct. 1.
At Ease “In the Army, it means relax but listen. In the Navy, it means go do what you were doing. So you say, ‘At ease,’ and half the people walk away.”—Army Capt. Tom Oakley on crossed communications with sailors and airmen coming to the Army under Operation Blue to Green, Associated Press, Sept. 28.
Nuclear Threat to Homeland “A potential nuclear attack on the United States has not received the attention it warrants or the resources it requires. A nuclear attack on our nation would produce unparalled devastation and suffering here. It is estimated a 12.5-kiloton nuclear weapon—which could fit in a small crate—used against New York City could kill 250,000 innocent people; another 700,000 could suffer from radiation sickness.”—Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.), vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and member of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, signed op-ed column, Washington Times, Sept. 23.
High-Tech Questions “It’s harder to justify high-tech weapons when we seem unable to defeat an adversary fighting with low-tech weapons and relatively primitive insurgent tactics.”—Loren B. Thompson, Lexington Institute, New York Times, Oct. 1.
Pointed Reference “Those who seek to bestow legitimacy must themselves embody it; and those who invoke international law must themselves submit to it.”—Annan, speech to UN General Assembly, Sept. 21.
The Reign in Spain “This is in no way an insult nor a sign of contempt toward the United States,” [but Spain is] “no longer subordinated and kneeling” [before Washington].—Jose Bono, defense minister in Spain’s new socialist government, after dropping US troops from list of those invited to march in national holiday parade, International Herald Tribune, Oct. 6.
Bremer Cites Mistakes “We paid a big price for not stopping it because it established an atmosphere of lawlessness. We never had enough troops on the ground.”—Paul L. Bremer, who headed the US provisional government in Iraq for 14 months, on the looting and on the size of the force, speech to Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers, Oct. 4.