[4] He loves military history and it is implied that he wargames various historical conflicts using automated miniature figures and effects, such as the battles of Agincourt, Waterloo, and Gettysburg.

[5] After thwarting Whitaker's plans in Afghanistan, Bond returns to Tangier to hunt him down at his headquarters, a plan which evolves into a game of cat-and-mouse in Whitaker's gaming room, with him using high-tech weapons, such as an 80-round light machine gun rifle with an integral ballistic shield, a bulletproof vest and a loaded antique battlefield cannon, while Bond has only his 8-round Walther PPK.

[3] Jeremy Black says of him; a "mad American pseudo-general, Brad Whitaker, the arms dealer, yet another figure with a Napoleon complex.

In between orchestrating international arms deals, Whitaker enjoys re-creating battles with his vast dioramas and toy soldiers.

[9] They also criticized his believability as a villain, describing him as an "oaf" from the American South who nobody would doubt could easily be defeated by James Bond.