23 Quotes by Lawrence Wilkerson

I've been there. I've stood on the hot parade ground as a pilot. I've cursed generals.

The secretary of defense under cover of the vice president's office,

(Powell) came through the door ... and he had in his hands a sheaf of papers, and he said, 'This is what I've got to present at the United Nations according to the White House, and you need to look at it,' ... It was anything but an intelligence document. It was, as some people characterized it later, sort of a Chinese menu from which you could pick and choose.

It was clear to me there that there was a visible audit trail from the vice president's office through the secretary of defense down to the commanders in the field.

It takes firm leadership to preside over the bureaucracy. But it also takes a willingness to listen to dissenting opinions. It requires leaders who can analyze, synthesize, ponder and decide.

not versed in international relations and not too much interested in them either.

If you are a military man you know that you just don't do these sorts of things because once you give just the slightest bit of leeway there are those in the armed forces who will take advantage of that,

If you are a military man, you know that you just don't do these sorts of things, ... they have to do what they have to do to get it.

George actually did call the Secretary, and said, 'I'm really sorry to have to tell you. We don't believe there were any mobile labs for making biological weapons,' ... This was the third or fourth telephone call. And I think it's fair to say the Secretary and Mr. Tenet, at that point, ceased being close. I mean, you can be sincere and you can be honest and you can believe what you're telling the Secretary. But three or four times on substantive issues like that? It's difficult to maintain any warm feelings.