Lawrence Rita
Lawrence Rita
capability forces greater key rotation stack top troops
We'll have a lot of flexibility to be able to let the forces stack on top of one another during the rotation (of troops in and out of Iraq) so that we can have a greater capability during key points.
assessment include likely stand thinking
I think it's likely he (Casey) will give some kind of an assessment on where we stand post-election and what his thinking is. I can't say that it will include a recommendation. I just don't know that.
ado concluded everybody general inspector issue matter moved serious thoroughly
The allegations were serious and the issue is a serious one. The inspector general concluded that it was much ado about nothing, that the individuals that had made the allegations couldn't substantiate their allegations, and everybody moved on. That matter was thoroughly vetted, and it's closed.
country exchange
That's the kind of exchange you want to have with a country that has not been that transparent.
bin dedicated harder less resources since tough trying
We're not trying any harder or less to find bin Laden than we've been doing since 9/11. It's a tough problem, and we have a lot or resources dedicated to it.
defense department determine entire less scope
We're going to take a look at the entire scope of our responsibilities in the Department of Defense and determine what is it that we can or should be doing better, differently, more of, less of.
allowing enemy intelligence intelligence-and-intellectuals learning stop
We're getting more intelligence that's allowing us to stop more of these things, find more of them. So we're learning from them (the insurgents) and the enemy is learning from us, and it's going to be that way for as long as there is an insurgency.
altered assume january perfectly plausible
We altered the rotations of units during the January election. And I think it's perfectly plausible to assume we'll do the same thing for this election,
answer definitive difference facts guys last takes tried uncover understanding
You guys really want the definitive answer and so do we. The difference is, that takes understanding facts, and we have tried to uncover facts over the last week.
adversary continues deadly develop precise
We see an adversary that ... continues to develop some sophistication on very deadly and increasingly precise standoff-type weapons.
analyze defense department happened last leadership learn ongoing reference review senior since terms various
Obviously, a lot has happened since the last Quadrennial Defense Review. The senior leadership of this department has established terms of reference for the ongoing Quadrennial Defense Review to look at a lot of activities, try and learn from what has happened since the last Quadrennial Defense Review, try and analyze various options, and come to some conclusions about how we're organized.
above define expect good kick kinds questions relationships
Is there a way to define a threshold, or an anticipated threshold, above which a different set of relationships would kick in? ... That's a good question. It's only been two weeks, so don't expect us to have the answers. But those are the kinds of questions we need to be asking.
cases gone recent ruled three weeks
Is there a pattern? Certainly, in recent weeks three helicopters have gone down. Nothing has been ruled in or out in any of those three cases yet.
feels push secretary
The secretary doesn't feel this is push back. He feels it's an important clarification.