Richard N. Haass

“I tend to be one of those who does not equate democratization with the holding of elections. The emphasis ought to be on such things as rule of law, economic reform, and promotion of a free media - in short, essentially independent, free institutions.”

“Democracy requires an informed citizenry able to question its government.”

“Modern terrorism is too destructive to be tolerated, much less supported.”

“Difficult choices, unlike red wine, rarely improve with age.”

“Trade accords had been a staple of the post-World War II world, providing a mechanism for economic growth, development, and association with friends and allies, and a means of reining in would-be adversaries who otherwise would have little incentive to act with restraint.”

“Trump is the first post-World War II American president to view the burdens of world leadership as outweighing the benefits.”

“The United States is not just another country. It has more capacity and potential to influence the world than any other country - and no other country has the resources and mindset to lead a world that is not on autopilot.”

“Homegrown terrorists are a real problem for even the most modern, democratic societies.”

“In a global world, what happens within one country can all too easily affect others.”

“Middle East history is replete with examples of missed and lost chances to make peace.”

“Not every threat to America's national interests can be addressed with military power.”

“I did not believe in the Iraq war.”

“What is obvious is that Donald Trump is comfortable with an approach to running his presidency based on what worked for him in the private sector.”

“America's armed forces are an essential background to much of what the U.S. accomplishes internationally.”

“Bad situations can always get worse.”

“When great powers fade, as they inevitably must, it's normally for one of two reasons. Some powers exhaust themselves through overreach abroad, underinvestment at home, or a mixture of the two. This was the case for the Soviet Union. Other powers lose their privileged position with the emergence of new, stronger powers.”

“Indeed, in foreign policymaking, inconsistency is often a virtue. I speak not of principles but of policy.”

“Our inability to govern ourselves at home, to deal with everything from infrastructure to our debt to tax policy, is reducing the appeal of the American model.”

“What countries must do to join the World Trade Organization is precisely what they must do to become productive and democratic: accept the rule of law, reduce corruption, and become open, accountable, and transparent.”

“Europeans must shed their illusions about what they can accomplish in the world on their own. Loose talk about resurrecting a multi-polar world is just that - loose talk.”