Reporter: Sir, what constitutes a victory in this new environment. I mean, Cap Weinberger in 1987 laid down some pretty clear rules for engaging U.S. forces. One was clear goals that are militarily achievable, that you can explain that there’s an endgame. What’s some of your early thinking here in terms of what constitutes victory?”
Rumsfeld: “…Now, what is victory? I say that victory is persuading the American people and the rest of the world that this is not a quick matter that’s going to be over in a month or a year or even five years. It is something that we need to do so that we can continue to live in a world with powerful weapons and with people who are willing to use those powerful weapons. And we can do that as a country. And that would be a victory, in my view.” – Rumsfeld Warns of ‘Marathon’ Fight Against Terrorism, U.S. Dept. of State, 9/20/01

Ashcroft appeared in Tampa as part of a monthlong tour of more than a dozen cities to counter growing criticism of the Patriot Act… “Our final tribute to the dead of Sept. 11 must be to fulfill our responsibility to defend the living, to finish the work,” Ashcroft said. “Our greatest memorial to those who have passed must be to protect the lives and liberties of those yet to come.” – Ashcroft: Patriot Act led to USF Professor’s Case, Tallahassee Democrat, 9/6/2003

Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised. – Text of President Bush’s March 17 address on Iraq, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 3/18/2003