137 Quotes by David Petraeus

Rumors of the American demise... have been greatly exaggerated.

I've been in a position before where a president has turned to me in the Oval Office in a difficult moment, without any pleasantries, and said, 'I'm asking you as your president and Commander in Chief to take command of the international security force in Afghanistan.' The only response can be, 'Yes, Mr. President.'

Being in combat is not unending high-five moments.

Obviously, resilience matters. I was no stranger to adversity, but it's different when it's personal. Not something I would recommend.

Ungoverned spaces in the Islamic world will be exploited by people who wish us ill. They will not be contained.

I don't comment directly on actions or statements of candidates.

Only Nixon could have gone to China. Anyone else would have been criticised from the Right.

If you're asked, you've got to serve - put aside any reservations based on campaign rhetoric... and figure out what's best for the country.

To do de-Baathification without an agreed process of reconciliation threw tens of thousands of people out of their jobs, out of their homes, out of their future, and even robbed them of their position in society.