Washington pulse.

"The first step in a 12 step process is admitting you have a problem."

Nay Secretary Donald Winter, explaining to an industry conference his thoughts about how to begin fixing serious problems in military acquisition.

"The further you're away from the headquarters--the center of the Beltway--the better it works."

Ambassador Henry A. Crumpton, coordinator for counterterrorism at the Department of State, responding to a reporters question on the military's performance in intelligence gathering.

"We are the castles in your castle, often driving 50 or 60 miles one way, because those are the only places where our...