Peter Beinart Quotes

Foreign policy should be strategic, not tactical.

The purpose of foreign policy is not to provide an outlet for our own sentiments of hope or indignation; it is to shape real events in a real world.

The art of foreign policy is to help guide the inevitable.

You always have more than one goal in foreign policy.

The United Nations is a means. It is not an end for American foreign policy.

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.

Like other countries in the world, China must uphold its own sovereignty, territorial integrity and development interests. At the same time, we are willing to properly handle differences and disagreements in state-to-state relations.

The Obama administration rarely demonstrated the ability to shift gears and change policy in its first year. Even in the face of historic events such as the continuing demonstrations against Iran's regime, it stuck devotedly to prior plans.

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.

During the past few years I have led a sometimes hard battle for German foreign policy.

Foreign policy is really domestic policy with its hat on.

All our security now depends on the wise decisions and cooperation of our leaders.

It is like our foreign policy has attention deficit disorder.

Turkey wants a policy of engagement exactly like President Obama's new approach. Policy of engagement, less confrontation, less tense attitude, especially in the region.

Our foreign policy has been inspired by two simple principles: the determination to place France's interests above all others, and the conviction that France has no greater interest than that of peace.

Clearly, for France in her present position, intelligent activity consists of practicing a policy of entente with Germany in order to survive

Foreign policy matters cannot be intelligently decided in a large general meeting.

Governments interfere in the affairs of each other, when they conceive their own peace is endangered.

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

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

A strong Germany is an indispensable condition for a durable peace in Europe.

Today we will find most nations to be both our partners and our adversaries—sometimes simultaneously.

[To Americans] diplomacy means all the wicked devices of the Old World, spheres of influence, balances of power, secret treaties, triple alliances, and, during the interwar period, appeasement of Fascism.

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.

U. S. Foreign Policy is usually largely reactive.