Lee H. Hamilton Quotes

I do not see Russia as a friend of the United States in any form or fashion. Are there some things that we might be able to work together on? Sure. We certainly haven't seen evidence of their desire to fight terrorism with us. I mean, we see them kill civilians, and you know, help Syrian President Bashar Assad concentrate more fully his power.

I think that Russia is very aware that they are on notice when it comes to certain issues. They are very aware that we do want to try and defeat ISIS together, if that's at all possible, along with our allies. But there's no love or anything going on with Russia right now. They get that we're getting our strength back, that we're getting our voice back, and that we're starting to lead again. And honestly, at the United Nations, that's the number one comment I get is they're just so happy to see the United States lead again.

Our bridge to the future must include bridges to other nations, because we remain the world's indispensable nation to advance prosperity, peace and freedom and to keep our own children safe from the dangers of terror and weapons of mass destruction.

Our alliances should be understood as a means to expand our influence, not as a constraint on our power. The expansion of democracy and freedom in the world should be a shared interest and value with all nations.

The United States has got to adopt a policy of befriending and creating allies around the world.

My overall worldview has never changed: that America has and must maintain the strongest military in the world, that we must lead the international community to confront threats and challenges together, and that we must use all tools of American power to protect our citizens and our interests.

So far as it depends on the course of this government, our relations of good will and friendship will be sedulously cultivated with all nations.

Germany must be a country which generates political ideas and leadership, which is capable of compromise, which is sovereign and yet knows that it needs its partners on both sides of the Atlantic.

Such highly qualitative leadership is demanded especially in the realm of the fostering of right international relations. Here the demand is simply irresistible.

I do want to try to put things in perspective today relative to the U.S.-Canada relationship. I would like to start by talking about how important this relationship is to the people of the United States.

Americans understand that our security is enhanced when the United States is trusted and respected in the world.

Foreign Policy has to be less foreign.

No foreign policy, no matter how ingenious, has any chance of success if it is born in the minds of a few and carried in the hearts of none.

America cannot meet this century's challenges alone; the world cannot meet them without America.

You don’t do foreign policy unilaterally. Foreign policy is a team sport.

I don’t think that we should ever apply our military power unilaterally…. If we cannot persuade like-minded, friendly nations of the wisdom of our policy, then maybe we should rethink the policy.

America must always lead on the world stage.

Our relations with the other powers of the world are important, but still more important are our relations among ourselves.

The United States is necessary for the solution to many problems in the world today. However, we are no longer sufficient..

We need to plus-up the budget of the State Department, increase the amount of aid we give, and help the world through this difficult moment. That is the price of leadership.

Making the case for sustained U. S. [world] leadership is not always easy. Unilateralism or isolationism often make for better sound bites.

Americans must step back and realize that an effective foreign policy is very difficult to devise, and we must present a united front to make it work.

I believe that if America does not lead, others will - others who do not share our interests and our values - and the world will grow darker, for our friends and for us.

We should have a good working friendship with the United States.

When Hillary served as Secretary of State, I watched her partner with President Obama to restore our country's reputation around the world.