As we respond to the assault of our enemy and defend our country, we must never break international laws. Crime can not be solved by more crime.

Spending one hour with Isaias is far more worthwhile, rewarding and enlightening than reading ten books

Africa's downfall has always been the cult of the personality. And their names always seem to begin with M. We've had Mobutu and Mengistu and I'm not going to add Meles to the list.

I know more now than I did in the past about the process of democratization. I know more about the pitfalls.

The most stupid mistake a counter-insurgency operation can make is alienating the population. If you alienate the population, you're finished.

Of course everybodys thinking evolves over time.

If it is presumed that the Kenyans will democratise in order to eat the peanuts of development assistance from the European Union... it would be a big mistake.

An oversupply of national sentiment is not the problem in Somalia. The problem is a lack of it. The problem is an oversupply of sub-sub-clannish attitude.

Of course everybody's thinking evolves over time. Only dead people cease learning, and I am not certified dead yet. So I am still learning.

Time and space have no meaning, just as your conscious thoughts are meaningless.

Desire is life trying to continue to be life. All living things desire, bacteria feel desire. Life is wanting.

Hate has no ears.

When God blesses you with great opportunities in life

Cook ingredients that you are used to cooking by other techniques, such as fish, chicken, or hamburgers. In other words be comfortable with the ingredients you are using.

The aversion to lying is often a hidden ambition to render our words credible and weighty, and to attach a religious aspect to our conversation.

An architect's most useful tools are an eraser at the drafting board, and a wrecking bar at the site.

On tobacco: A branch of the sin of drunkenness, which is the root of all sins.

Body and spirit I surrendered whole To harsh instructors and received a soul... If mortal man could change me through and through From all I was What may the God not do?

I don't really read a lot. Maybe I should.