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Edited on Fri Oct-20-06 11:49 PM by stonecoldsober
Q Let me ask you a question to make sure that I have my arms around -- we've been talking tactics and strategy and objectives. Let's get it on the table, and for purposes of future discussion, even, have an understanding of what we're talking about. Strategy, as I understand it, is how war is conducted, it's a plan of action.
MR. SNOW: That's going to fall more -- let me explain --
Q And tactics are how you implement that, right?
MR. SNOW: Let me try to explain the terms I'm using the way I've used, because it's given us all plenty to talk about the last two weeks. So I will assert press secretary's privilege to define the terms of the debate, and then we can talk about it.
Let's first set the goal, what do you want to achieve. You want to achieve as a goal an Iraq that can sustain, defend and govern itself. What is the strategy? The strategy is to use not merely military force, but other means at your disposal to create that secure Iraq. That includes a security component -- military, police, and so on. It includes a political component -- a government that is able to govern, and at the same time, also draws in parties from all over the country who are invested in it.
A third part is an economic component, because that is also going to be absolutely necessary to say to some who have gone into the insurgency, because they think they have no prospects, no, you've got prospects here. So the strategy is to use all three of those means to bring about the end, of an Iraq that can sustain, govern and defend itself.
On the tactical side, you're going to have all three meshing together in different ways, because they do intersect. For instance, when you're dealing with oil fields, you do have security concerns. You have political concerns, as well. We've encouraged the Iraqis to treat that as a natural resource to be shared by all. So that is how -- so you've got goals, strategy, tactics.
Q Okay, and that's the Snow definition --
MR. SNOW: Yes.
Q Webster's has "tactics" as: the way you implement strategy.
MR. SNOW: Well, Webster's and I agree on this one, Jim. (Laughter.)
Q Okay. And I'm sure that comes as great comfort to Webster's.
MR. SNOW: Old Daniel has been gone a while, but I'm sure his heirs and assigns are happy.
Q Here's the question -- under these definitions, is --
Q It's Noah.
MR. SNOW: Oh, that's right, Noah, thank you.
Q Noah Webster.
MR. SNOW: Noah, thank you. I'm glad I'm here. You guys keep me honest. I'm sorry, Jim.
Q I should have gone with Funk and Wagnall's. (Laughter.)
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