Lawrence Rita
Lawrence Rita
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.
bad determine good
That's not a good way to determine how good or bad things are going - by (counting) how many things are exploding.
assessment result
In July, he had one assessment. He has an assessment now that could still result in what he said earlier, it could result in no change, it could result in more.
behalf certainly fine men perception regret
On behalf of these fine young men and women, we certainly regret any perception that they were told what to say. It is not the case.
adversary continues deadly develop precise
We see an adversary that ... continues to develop some sophistication on very deadly and increasingly precise standoff-type weapons.
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.
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.
careful operating perhaps procedures reviewed standard
So they've reviewed the standard operating procedures to see if perhaps we could have been more careful in those cases.
footprint heavy lower presence tension
The tension that the commanders feel between heavy presence and lower footprint is something they're measuring all the time.
feels push secretary
The secretary doesn't feel this is push back. He feels it's an important clarification.
advised among decided expect issues soldiers speak themselves
The soldiers were advised as to the issues they should expect to discuss, and decided among themselves who would speak to each issue as it may arise,
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.
based conditions latest political reduction series troop
As we have already said, the troop reduction will be based on conditions, and one of the important conditions is this election, which will be the latest in a series of political developments.
close continue either presence reduced self turn
As you continue to either close or turn over these bases, it's just self-evident that there would be some reduced need for the American presence in those areas,