The art of diplomacy is to take an opportunity and turn it into something.
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
-
-
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.
BRENT SCOWCROFT -
Progress is only possible if the United States and its allies work together.
BRENT SCOWCROFT -
I think America has to do more than be a broker now. Because both the Palestinians are weak and Israel is very weak.
BRENT SCOWCROFT -
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 SCOWCROFT -
Democracy doesn’t just consist of holding elections.
BRENT SCOWCROFT -
I’m afraid that the United States is more isolated today than at any other time in my memory.
BRENT SCOWCROFT -
Much of what we know about mathematics and trade comes from the Arabs. Then came stagnation, and now they’re the West’s whipping boy. This is a problem that cannot be solved overnight, and certainly not militarily.
BRENT SCOWCROFT -
The radical elements in Islam are very dangerous.
BRENT SCOWCROFT -
I don’t think the Chinese look out at the world and want to overturn the system.
BRENT SCOWCROFT -
The Iraqis need help establishing a government. We have to provide them with security.
BRENT SCOWCROFT -
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.
BRENT SCOWCROFT -
Who is the guarantor, if there is one, of a more stable world? It’s the United States.
BRENT SCOWCROFT -
Russia right now is searching for its soul. It’s trying to figure out what it really is.
BRENT SCOWCROFT -
To sum up, the position we took was that since we didn’t know the internal situation in Iraq nor Saddam Hussein, that our best bet was to take counsel from the people who did know him and who did deal with him.
BRENT SCOWCROFT -
If Iraq were to descend into chaos, the Europeans would feel the effects just as much as we would.
BRENT SCOWCROFT