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Donald Rumsfeld

Donald Rumsfeld Quotes

Former U.S. Secretary of Defense

Donald Rumsfeld is a prominent American politician who served as the United States Secretary of Defense twice. Born on July 9, 1932, Rumsfeld has extensive experience in political and military affairs, leading key national security and defense policies.

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All Ifs People President Iraq Knows Country War Thinking May Weapons World Wells Decision Weapons Of Mass Destruction Want Destruction Mass Destruction Trying Helping Looks

Famous Donald Rumsfeld Quotes

“As you know, you go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want or wish to have at a later time. Since the Iraq conflict began, the Army has been pressing ahead to produce the armor necessary at a rate that they believe - it's a greatly expanded rate from what existed previously, but a rate that they believe is the rate that is all that can be accomplished at this moment.”

Knows Want Believe Has Beens War Moments Might Wish Produce Conflict Army Rate Iraq Accomplished Armor

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“Any country on the face of the Earth with an active intelligence program knows that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction.”

Knows War Country Earth Faces Weapons Mass Program Destruction Iraq Active Weapons Of Mass Destruction Mass Destruction

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“The press always wants to know how many people will be killed or how much it will cost, but the answers to those questions are not knowable.”

People Knows Want Answers Know How Cost Presses

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“I believe what I said yesterday. I don't know what I said, but I know what I think and I assume it's what I said.”

Thinking Knows Believe Said I Believe Assuming Yesterday

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“There are things that we know, and there are things that we don't know. Then there are the things that we don't even know that we don't know. Those are the things that are the hardest.”

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“Know that the immediate staff and others in the Administration will assume that your manner, tone and tempo reflect the President's.”

Knows President Assuming Administration Tone Staff Tempo

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“When someone with a rural accent says, "I don't know much about politics," zip up your pockets.”

Knows Pockets Accents Zips

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“The United States, as all you know, did not come to Iraq for oil, not to occupy. We came here only to help.”

Knows States Helping United United States Iraq Oil

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns - the ones we don't know we don't know.”

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“Oh my goodness gracious, what you can buy off the Internet in terms of overhead photography. A trained ape can know an awful lot of what is going on in this world, just by punching on his mouse, for a relatively modest cost.”

Knows World Term This World Internet Cost Goodness Photography Awful Modest Mice Gracious Apes Overhead Punching

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“Know that the amount of criticism you receive may correlate somewhat to the amount of publicity you receive.”

Knows May Amount Criticism Publicity

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“Let your family, staff, and friends know that you're still the same person, despite all the publicity and notoriety that accompanies your position.”

Knows Persons Stills Position Despite Staff Publicity Accompany Notoriety

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“When asked for your views, by the press or others, remember that what they really want to know is the President's views.”

Knows Want Remember President Views Presses Euthanasia

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“Learn to say 'I don't know.' If used when appropriate, it will be often.”

Ifs Knows Used Appropriate

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“Members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate are not there by accident. Each managed to get there for some reason. Learn what it was and you will know something important about them, about our country and about the American people.”

People Knows Important Country Reason House Members Accidents Our Country Senate

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“Visit with your predecessors from previous Administrations. They know the ropes and can help you see around some corners. Try to make original mistakes, rather than needlessly repeating theirs.”

Knows Trying Helping Mistake Originals Corners Administration Rope Predecessors

Book:Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

Source: Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001

“We know where they are [Iraq's weapons of mass destruction]. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat.”

Knows War Weapons Mass Areas Destruction West South Iraq East Weapons Of Mass Destruction Mass Destruction Iraq War Baghdad Wmd Wmds In Iraq Biological Weapons

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“We do know of certain knowledge that he [Osama Bin Laden] is either in Afghanistan, or in some other country, or dead.”

Knows Country Certain Afghanistan Other Countries Bin Laden Osama Bin Laden Certain Knowledge

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“If I know the answer I'll tell you the answer, and if I don't I'll just respond cleverly.”

Ifs Knows Answers

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“We do know that the Iraqi regime has chemical and biological weapons. His regime has amassed large, clandestine stockpiles of chemical weapons - including VX, sarin, cyclosarin and mustard gas. His regime has amassed large, clandestine stockpiles of biological weapons—including anthrax and botulism toxin, and possibly smallpox.”

Knows Weapons Including Gas Chemicals Regimes Mustard Chemical Weapons Toxins Smallpox Biological Weapons Clandestine Anthrax Mustard Gas

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“I don't believe anyone that I know in the administration ever said that Iraq had nuclear weapons.”

Knows Believe Said Weapons Don't Believe Iraq Nuclear Administration Nuclear Weapons Invasion

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“I don't know anybody that I can think of who has contended that the Iraqis had nuclear weapons.”

Thinking Knows I Can Stupid Weapons Iraq Nuclear Nuclear Weapons

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“They may have had time to destroy them, and I don't know the answer.”

Knows May Answers Iraq Weapons Of Mass Destruction Mass Destruction Wmd Wmds In Iraq

Author:Donald Rumsfeld

“We know where they are. They are in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad.”

Knows Areas Iraq Weapons Of Mass Destruction Mass Destruction Iraq War Baghdad Wmd Wmds In Iraq Biological Weapons

Book:Known and Unknown: A Memoir

Source: Known and Unknown: A Memoir

About the Author

Born: July 9, 1932
Known for: Former U.S. Secretary of Defense
Quotes: 224

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Books & Sources

Public Statements of Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, 2001Related source material

Known and Unknown: A MemoirRelated source material

The World According to RummyRelated source material

Known and UnknownRelated source material

Rumsfeld's Rules: Leadership Lessons in Business, Politics, War, and LifeRelated source material

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