Linda Colley Quotes

In matters of war, we undermine presidential credibility at our nation’s peril.

No protracted war can fail to endanger the freedom of a democratic country.

For a long time, it was believed that war was waged by armies which could not be identified with the nation itself. Professional soldiers took upon themselves the job of defending national interests, and it was understood that the war affected only them; the country itself went on living and working.

If you start studying history closer, you'll find that most all wars are based on false flag operations to get people - to convince the people that they're under attack in some way so that they will support the wars.

Useful as a war against France, undertaken by the Government against the will of the people would be for our revolutionary development, just so dangerous must be the effect upon our democratic development of a war supported by blind popular enthusiasm.

If the American people really come to a settled belief that Bush lied us into war, his presidency will be over.

I don't think that the war serves U.S. interests. I think Osama bin Laden's interests and the Iranian interests are very much served by it, and it's becoming a huge drain on our resources both material and political.

As I've said many times and publicly, a war between China and Taiwan that involves the United States is a lose-lose-lose.

Wars are expensive and dangerous. They're not political winners.

The War Powers Act requires presidents to seek the consent of the American people, through their representatives, before sending our troops into war. It is the responsibility of Congress to deliberate and consult with the executive branch before involving ourselves in a military conflict.

Going to war is a rare experience in American culture, so it's easy for simple notions to gain a lot of weight. The reality is always more complex.

The 'Cold War' impinged on the daily lives of Americans. The wars after 11 September 2001 have been fought without the general American population having to make any sacrifices. It goes on, and so do we.

My point was that the war was intrinsically wrong, and as a result of our participation we haven't improved Australia's security but created a greater danger at home and abroad.

Present and future conditions will determine the American public’s attitude on this war.

Even in matters of defense—the purpose for which government was instituted among men—no government can promise any longer that it can protect civilians and that they are not going to be harmed by war.

By God, you can't fight a war unless the people support it.

Uncle Sam’s Latest Greatest Shortest War

The Iraq War has been the most dangerous and costly foreign policy debacle in our nation’s history.

James Forrestal is the most dangerous man in America. If he is not removed from office, he will cause another world war.

Americans will stomach long wars only when the nation’s survival is clearly at stake.

The prescription for endless war poses a far greater danger to Americans than perceived enemies do, for reasons the terrorist organisations understand very well.

I think that Americans - and this is not true just now, but over the years - are not fundamentally opposed to war. They're fundamentally opposed to losing wars.

During my years in the Navy and in the White House, I was involved in assessing how a war with Iran would go. In summary: It would be ugly.

It doesn't take much insight to realize that wars have been getting worse every time - worse from the point of view of the civilian, more and more destructive, more and more total.

The people who are sending our men and women in uniform into conflict need to understand that there are some things worth fighting for, but also understand the high cost of war.