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The art of diplomacy is to take an opportunity and turn it into something.

Brent Scowcroft

Saddam’s ouster will not necessarily lead to the same result, since Iraq lacks democratic traditions. Democracy doesn’t just consist of holding elections.
BRENT SCOWCROFT

Country Democracy Election People
If Iraq were to descend into chaos, the Europeans would feel the effects just as much as we would.
BRENT SCOWCROFT

Chaos Country Feels People
It’s not for nothing that the Iranians are known as rug merchants. They are.
BRENT SCOWCROFT

Countries Known Merchants People
Progress is only possible if the United States and its allies work together.
BRENT SCOWCROFT

Allies Progress Together Working
Russia right now is searching for its soul. It’s trying to figure out what it really is.
BRENT SCOWCROFT

Russia Soul Trying
Since the days of Peter the Great, Russians have been maybe Europeans who didn’t share in the enlightenment and the reformation, or are they Mongol Asians with the European veneer. And they’ve gone back and forth.
BRENT SCOWCROFT

Enlightenment Gone Share
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

Boys Problem West
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

Country People Strength Stronger
I’m afraid that the United States is more isolated today than at any other time in my memory.
BRENT SCOWCROFT

Country Memories People United States
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

Country Different People Vietnam
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

Believe Thinking World
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

Country Hussein Internal People Situation
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

Broke Country People Thinking Weak
Democracy doesn’t just consist of holding elections.
BRENT SCOWCROFT

Consists Democracy Election
My point was that removing Saddam should not have been our highest priority. Fighting terrorism should have been our number one concern, followed by the Palestinian peace process.
BRENT SCOWCROFT

Fighting Followed Numbers Terrorism
I don’t think the Chinese look out at the world and want to overturn the system.
BRENT SCOWCROFT

Country Looks People System Thinking

The art of diplomacy is to take an opportunity and turn it into something.

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The art of diplomacy is to take an opportunity and turn it into something.

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