Fareed Zakaria Quotes

Foreign policy is all about a universe of bad decisions, imperfect decisions; every situation is different. The dynamics, the atmospherics, the people, the pressures, the geopolitical realities shift.

George Bush has shown great skill at disguising an incredibly weak foreign policy.

Ninety percent of foreign policy is reacting to whatever's happening out there.

The United States has become geopolitically hobbled seemingly interested in grand strategic initiatives or transformative diplomacy, as its attention constantly dances from one crisis to another.

Foreign policy is like plumbing. You never notice it till it breaks and then all hell breaks loose.

Obama really does recognize the threats that are out there; I think he understands the world. He understands the role of America in that troubled world.

I am proposing a new foreign policy focused on advancing America's core national interests - so important - promoting regional stability, and producing and easing the tensions within our very troubled world.

Foreign policy deals across time as well as space.

As a world leader, America must be prepared to confront any challenge.

For years now, long before I became House majority leader, I have been passionate about foreign affairs because I believe that anyone who leads in Washington must appreciate the significance of America's role in providing for global security and prosperity.

I used to have a little saying I used when people said, 'What are your priorities?' I'd give them a bit of government alphabet soup. I'd say 'CTCPROW: Counterterrorism, counterproliferation, rest of the world.'

Obama is thoroughly mixed up with all these things he's got. He's got to solve Libya. He's got to solve Afghanistan. He's everywhere. And this nation, I don't know why it's not showing the leadership and capacity to attend different issues at the same time.

America's relations with complex Middle Eastern states such as Egypt are often difficult.

Foreign policy is consumed with momentary crises —– often created by failing states and violent groups. But in the long run, he future is shaped by winners, not noisy losers.

We have a tendency in America to deal with foreign affairs on a day by day basis. We are so saturated with facts that we do no look at a longer, broader picture.

Very near the heart of all foreign affairs is the relationship between policy and military power.

Under the Nixon-Ford administration, there has evolved a kind of secretive "Lone Ranger" foreign policy—a one-man policy of international adventure. This is not an appropriate policy for America.

Foreign policy is too important to be left up to foreign service officers.

It is the President alone who must make the major decisions of our foreign policy.

Power is a necessary condition for enduring foreign-policy success but not a sufficient one.

Unilateralism in secret is sometimes necessary at the height of a crisis.

English [foreign] policy is to float lazily downstream, occasionally putting out a diplomatic boat-hook to avoid collisions.

The media should probe and challenge candidates to help voters understand their views on foreign policy. Questions should include, 'What lessons have you learned from past foreign policy decisions? How will they shape your vision as commander in chief? What is America's role in the world?'

Foreign policy is important.

I think that America's recovery of a global strategic view is an absolutely essential element of our foreign policy.