I never expected to be Defence Secretary. It's a great privilege.

- Bob Ainsworth

We in the west walked away from Afghanistan at the end of the cold war and left it as a country devastated socially and armed to the teeth. If we do …

- Bob Ainsworth

Growing up, I was always in the kitchen. Even in third grade, I made cooking videos called 'The Little Italian.' Very little production value, but it…

- Bob Ainsworth

My heroes are the non-commissioned officers. If I had another life thats what Id be - a regimental sergeant major or a similar rank. Thats where the …

- Bob Ainsworth

Failure in Afghanistan would have profound consequences for our national security. It would undermine the NATO alliance structure that has been the b…

- Bob Ainsworth

I come from a pretty tough background and I learned a long time ago not to be bothered.

- Bob Ainsworth

I got a tooth bust by somebody who decided they didn't like me and I thought the moustache hid a scar on my lip. It's true that people were told faci…

- Bob Ainsworth