But, if you believe we should go around the world overturning regimes to make little United States, I don’t agree with that, because I don’t think we’re capable of doing that.
BRENT SCOWCROFTAmerica is stronger than any state probably since the Roman Empire. But we can’t do what used to be done with that kind of strength.
More Brent Scowcroft Quotes
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It is beyond dispute that Saddam Hussein is a menace.
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Saddam’s ouster will not necessarily lead to the same result, since Iraq lacks democratic traditions. Democracy doesn’t just consist of holding elections.
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I don’t think the Chinese look out at the world and want to overturn the system.
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But the central point is that any campaign against Iraq, whatever the strategy, cost and risks, is certain to divert us for some indefinite period from our war on terrorism.
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The radical elements in Islam are very dangerous. They want to achieve a return to the Islamic purity of the Middle Ages.
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After the ’30s, we said, “no more Munichs.” And it got us in a lot of problems. Then we said, “No more Vietnams.” Now if we say, “No more Iraqs,” the next one won’t be an Iraq. It will be something different. You can’t learn lessons.
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The radical elements in Islam are very dangerous.
BRENT SCOWCROFT -
America is stronger than any state probably since the Roman Empire. But we can’t do what used to be done with that kind of strength.
BRENT SCOWCROFT -
Europeans are familiar with terrorism and violence. We have not experienced a true conflict on our soil in a hundred years, and especially not one that involved 3,000 dead.
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Information technology has politicized the world’s population.
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It’s not for nothing that the Iranians are known as rug merchants. They are.
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If Iraq were to descend into chaos, the Europeans would feel the effects just as much as we would.
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If you look back at the first Gulf war, the Arabs sent forces, they sent money. So their interests in Iraq are clear, but they’re nowhere to be seen now. Why? Because right now, it’s dangerous to be seen as supporting the United States.
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We have not been forthcoming about explaining a security relationship for the region, in which Iran can feel secure and thus maybe willing to do something.
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The art of diplomacy is to take an opportunity and turn it into something.
BRENT SCOWCROFT