Jane Smiley Quotes

Taking a principled and consistent stance over Iraq has attracted much criticism from our detractors and opponents.

But, actually, it is only Americans who say that our freedoms and prosperity are the reason foreigners hate us. If you ask the foreigners, they make it clear that it's America's bullying foreign policy they detest.

John Kerry, who says he doesn't like outsourcing, wants to outsource our national security.

You will never see President Bachmann step one toe out of the United States and apologize for this country.

The United States is not just an old cow that gives more milk the more it's kicked in the flanks.

Tony Blair is a brilliant politician. Unfortunately, his legacy is entwined with George W. Bush because of Iraq.

Graham Greene, as I understand it, was quite outspoken in his criticism of American foreign policy.

The Constitution is an invitation to struggle for the privilege of directing American foreign policy.

This President is a miserable failure on foreign policy.

America must always lead on the world stage.

As long as Americans believe that their country has vital interests everywhere on earth, they will behave the same.

For more than 70 years, the presidents of both parties believed that American security and prosperity were directly tied to the success of freedom in the world. And they knew that the success depended, in large part, on U.S. leadership. This mission came naturally, because it expressed the DNA of American idealism.

When the United States of America does things in its best interests, it is hated. I'm sorry, that just ticks me off.

Personally, I think that Hillary was one of the worst, if not the worst, I mean if you look at the record, secretary of States ever, ever in this country. I think that's the bigger problem that she's got. I don't think Benghazi is as big a problem for her as her past and what's happened. The world blew up around her.

There is no international problem that can be addressed or solved without the engagement and leadership of the United States and everybody in the world knows that, its just fact of life. So sometimes I think we could conduct ourselves with a little more humility.

The United States can tell you all about what's wrong with the British, to say nothing of the Russians.

This country was the moral leader of the world until George Bush became president.

I disapprove of lots of decisions made by George Bush: the war, the meddling in the affairs of other countries, the conversations with dictators; it was a dark time.

We have tried to make it clear that the United States is not just an old cow that gives more milk the more it is kicked in the flanks.

I wish Obama would focus on governing the United States and would forget his country's imperialist pretensions.

I will begin my presidency with a jobs tour. President Obama began with an apology tour. America, he said, had dictated to other nations. No Mr. President, America has freed other nations from dictators.

The shortcomings of America's political leaders do not stop at our borders.

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

In the current environment, we find it very difficult to defend America, and so we keep our silence. Because, to be very frank with you, how can we defend America?

The rest of the world cares about how we conduct our affairs because they then take that lead. We're the only leader in the world today. Some are wishing us well, others think that we're down and are not going to get back up again, but they are all watching with great interest to see how we conduct our business over the next couple of years.