Verbatim

Never Satisfied

Everyone thinks that we are far away from America or Canada. No, we are in this zone of freedom. And when the limits of rights and freedoms are being violated and stepped on, then you have to protect us. Because we will come first. You will come second. Because the more this beast will eat, he wants more, more, and more.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, interview with ABC news, March 7.

Money Well Spent

All but five years of the United States Air Force’s life as a service, there’s always been a B-52. … And guess what, there will be a B-52 until 2050.

Gen. Anthony J. Cotton at the AFA Warfare Symposium (AWS) in Orlando, Fla., March 3.

That’s Not a Good Boy

I feel like a chew toy between different combatant commanders where they’re pulling and asking for more Air Force capability to go to different places. Because the Air Force is the one service that can get there faster than anybody else, except for the space portion.USAF CSAF Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., at AWS March 3.

Technology for $200, Alex

I am hopeful that we are actually going to [digitize] WAPS testing. Like, it is 2022, if we can’t get out of taking a No. 2 pencil into promotion tests, something is wrong.CMSAF JoAnne S. Bass, March 3 at AWS.

On Second Thought …

Mr. Putin says that he doesn’t want a strong NATO on his western flank. He’s getting exactly that. … I can honestly say that I have never seen the alliance more relevant and more united and more resolute than I see it today.Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, press conference after NATO Defense Ministerial, Feb. 17.

Hard Labor

Putin has already failed, because he has given birth to a monster: European power and European defense.Salome Zourabichvili, President of Georgia, quoted in the New York Times, March 2.

Peaceful Growth

We will advance the peaceful growth of relations across the Taiwan Strait and the reunification of China. We firmly oppose any separatist activities seeking ‘Taiwan independence’ and firmly oppose foreign interference.Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, address to Parliament, Reuters, March 5.

Upgrades Needed

The strategic security environment is now a three-party nuclear near-peer reality. Our existing nuclear forces are the minimum required to achieve our national strategy. We must modernize and recapitalize the nation’s nuclear triad, nuclear command and control, nuclear complex, and supporting infrastructure to meet presidential objectives.Adm. Charles A. Richard, STRATCOM commander, HASC strategic forces subcommittee, March 1.