David Brooks Quotes

If I were to look at foreign policy, I would say John McCain has been wrong on just about everything over the last four decades.

I think there is a failure in foreign policy. And you have to acknowledge that under Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton was the architect of that foreign policy. Whether it was malevolent or not, I don't know.

It's worth remembering George W. Bush, Barack Obama also came in thinking they had the magic key to better, warmer relations with Russia; those efforts ended in tears.

I think the foreign policy is really not Donald Trump administration concern. Like the Syria strike. I mean, it meant almost nothing. They hit an empty air base. Within a day, it was functioning again. Planes were flying off it. It was for a domestic show, you know - show what a tough guy I am; I'm not Barack Obama.

I think it would be a threat [Donald's Trump presidency] to the conduct of our foreign policy and our position in the world at large.

A number of foreign policy experts distanced themselves from Donald Trump, not Michael Flynn.

Foreign policy is a little bit like a guy who goes to Las Vegas. If you win too much, then you eventually bet the mortgage. You start to think you are infallible.

In critical ways, Obama has reversed not just Bush policy but every president's approach to the world since the Second World War, save for that of his soulmate Jimmy Carter.

This President is a miserable failure on foreign policy.

The United States may have to abandon its policy of avoiding entangling alliances.

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

Bill Clinton’s only experience with foreign policy is the fact that he had breakfast at the International House of Pancakes.

I think Mrs. Clinton has a lot of weaknesses because she was the architect of the Obama administration's foreign policy.

Maybe Hillary Clinton was right in 2008 when she called Barack Obama 'naive' on foreign policy.

I think that in terms of the American interests, I would feel more safe with a President Trump representing those interests to the world.

Donald Trump is an American presidential nominee who was describing Russia in terms that they haven't heard almost ever. And so there is a belief that Donald Trump would be a collaborative, willing and I think perhaps quite able partner.

Foreign policy is like hitting a baseball: if you fail 70 percent of the time, you go to the Hall of Fame.

I think I'm getting very high marks on foreign policy. I noticed that over the last couple of days.

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.

I've thought for some time that the answer to a lot of problems in the Middle East, including Iran, include an active role with Russia. And I think, in some ways, we've taken show votes in the U.N. that are guaranteed to failure before we take them.

This is the problem with foreign policy - talking about foreign policy in a political context. Politics is binary. People win and lose elections. Legislation passes or doesn't pass. And in foreign policy often what you're doing is nuance and you're trying to prevent something worse from happening. It doesn't translate well into a political environment.

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.

Foreign policy is conducted for the convenience and enjoyment of people in Washington.

I think I've done more right than wrong on foreign policy. I've criticized the president for being weak and indecisive. I've been a problem solver in Washington and I think I've got something to offer the party and nation.

I think, clearly, we got to work closely with China to resolve the serious problems we have, and I worry about Putin and his military adventurism in the Crimea and the Ukraine.