I think what he's - what he believes, and he may be correct, I don't know, that we have some intelligence information that leads us to know some things about what's going on in Iraq that we haven't revealed to others.

In this quote, Lawrence Eagleburger is discussing the intelligence information related to Iraq that may not have been shared with the public or international community. He implies that the individual he is referring to believes they possess certain knowledge or insights about Iraq that could provide a clearer picture of what is happening there. However, Eagleburger acknowledges uncertainty about the veracity of this information and the reasons behind withholding it from others.

The quote highlights the importance of intelligence in making decisions related to national security, particularly concerning potential threats in Iraq. Eagleburger’s statement suggests that governments sometimes have access to classified or sensitive information that may influence their policies or actions but might not always be disclosed for reasons of security or diplomacy.

The origin of this quote can be traced to the period leading up to the Iraq War, a time when there were debates about the intelligence surrounding Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Eagleburger’s words reflect the complex nature of intelligence gathering and decision-making, where the details available to decision-makers might not be fully disclosed to the public.

Ultimately, this quote underscores the tension between transparency and security in matters of national defense. Eagleburger acknowledges that while there might be valid reasons for withholding certain information, it also raises questions about the full extent of what governments know and how that knowledge shapes their actions.