It's also natural in that part of the world to blame what people view as the... as the most important authority in the region, and that currently is the United States of America.

Quote by John Abizaid

Topics: John Abizaid Quotes

So, these political activities will create friction in and of themselves, and in this environment...

So, these political activities will create friction in and of themselves, and in this environment...

We've got to ensure that the quality and the capability of these forces will be...

We've got to ensure that the quality and the capability of these forces will be...

Morale is good; troops are confident; leaders are capable.

Morale is good; troops are confident; leaders are capable.

I think you will see a lot of strains develop in the political process that...

I think you will see a lot of strains develop in the political process that...

Being on the run, having to change the way that you do business, being unable...

Being on the run, having to change the way that you do business, being unable...

Capturing any member of any terrorist cell or any insurgent cell that we may happen...

Capturing any member of any terrorist cell or any insurgent cell that we may happen...

We'll try to include Iraqi officers in our staffs. We will do everything we can...

We'll try to include Iraqi officers in our staffs. We will do everything we can...

I think what actually works best is local-level individual targeting of key leadership nodes.

I think what actually works best is local-level individual targeting of key leadership nodes.

In other words, for every 10 enemy you kill you bring on 20 new recruits...

In other words, for every 10 enemy you kill you bring on 20 new recruits...

But I am satisfied that the information that we have that this is the work...

But I am satisfied that the information that we have that this is the work...

Clearly the Secretary of Defense, my boss, would like nothing better than to get Osama...

Clearly the Secretary of Defense, my boss, would like nothing better than to get Osama...

But the key shift in focus will be from counter-insurgency operations to more and more...

But the key shift in focus will be from counter-insurgency operations to more and more...

I think you also understand that one of the key things that's got to be...

I think you also understand that one of the key things that's got to be...

As far as Zarqawi is concerned, there is a network of extremists; it's not just...

As far as Zarqawi is concerned, there is a network of extremists; it's not just...

But all that having been said, you can't, in a city of a million people...

But all that having been said, you can't, in a city of a million people...

You know as well as I do that counterinsurgency is a very nuanced type of...

You know as well as I do that counterinsurgency is a very nuanced type of...

Well, the hardest thing to do, as we know from our own experience on 9/11...

Well, the hardest thing to do, as we know from our own experience on 9/11...

Our forces will not be on the sidelines.

Our forces will not be on the sidelines.

Undoubtedly, there are members of the former regime that are cooperating in some fashion and...

Undoubtedly, there are members of the former regime that are cooperating in some fashion and...

Oh, the transition concerns me because as we move towards an important political event, it's...

Oh, the transition concerns me because as we move towards an important political event, it's...