I can't tell you if the use of force in Iraq today will last five days, five weeks or five months, but it won't last any longer than that. Donald Rumsfeld More Quotes by Donald Rumsfeld More Quotes From Donald Rumsfeld Don't do or say things you would not like to see on the front page of The Washington Post. Donald Rumsfeld posts fronts pages Don't automatically obey Presidential directives if you disagree or if you suspect he hasn't considered key aspects of the issue. Donald Rumsfeld presidential issues keys Be precise. A lack of precision is dangerous when the margin of error is small. Donald Rumsfeld precision errors funny Reduce the layers of management. They put distance between the top of an organization and the customers. Donald Rumsfeld layers distance organization Don't think of yourself as indispensable or infallible. As Charles De Gaulle said, the cemeteries of the world are full of indispensable men. Donald Rumsfeld men world thinking If a prospective Presidential approach can't be explained clearly enough to be understood well, it probably hasn't been thought through well enough. If not well understood by the American people, it probably won't 'sail' anyway. Send it back for further thought. Donald Rumsfeld inspirational funny people In the execution of Presidential decisions work to be true to his views, in fact and tone. Donald Rumsfeld presidential decision views Arguments of convenience lack integrity and inevitably trip you up. Donald Rumsfeld journey integrity travel When asked for your views, by the press or others, remember that what they really want to know is the President's views. Donald Rumsfeld president views want Plan backwards as well as forward. Set objectives and trace back to see how to achieve them. You may find that no path can get you there. Plan forward to see where your steps will take you, which may not be clear or intuitive. Donald Rumsfeld path steps may 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. Donald Rumsfeld rivals jobs world Be able to resign. It will improve your value to the President and do wonders for your performance. Donald Rumsfeld able president wonder If in doubt, don't. If still in doubt, do what's right. Donald Rumsfeld stills ifs doubt Let your family, staff, and friends know that you're still the same person, despite all the publicity and notoriety that accompanies your position. Donald Rumsfeld staff publicity notoriety I don't do quagmires. Donald Rumsfeld quagmire Know that the amount of criticism you receive may correlate somewhat to the amount of publicity you receive. Donald Rumsfeld publicity criticism may Our goal is to defend the American people, and to eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, and to liberate the Iraqi people. Donald Rumsfeld destruction goal people There's no debate in the world as to whether people have weapons of mass destruction... We all know that. A trained ape knows that. Donald Rumsfeld debate people world It is worth reminding that being president is a tough job for anybody, and particularly so in the information age. There's such a glut of information. Anything a president says or does is picked up on the Internet or the 24/7 news media and criticized almost instantly. Leaders persuade through their words and as such their words need to be measured and well chosen. It is a tough job. Donald Rumsfeld media leader jobs A president has to provide leadership to gain support. Donald Rumsfeld support gains president
