--attributed by Washington Technology (a beltway industry paper) to James
Schlesinger (a senior DoD Executive) from a recent Washington DC luncheon
keynote address; (remarks are paraphrased to some degree):
--"In managing the DoD there are many unexpected communications problems:
For instance, when the Marines are ordered to "secure a building", they form a
landing party and assault it. On the otherhand, the same instructions will
lead the Army to occupy the building with a troop of infantry, and the Navy
will characteristically respond by sending a yeoman to assure that the
building lights are turned out. When the Air Force acts on these
instructions, what results is a 'three year lease with option to purchase'."
(
geocities.com/hanson_c)