James Baker Quotes

Kneejerk interventionism or kneejerk isolationism is the wrong course for Britain.

U. S. Foreign Policy is usually largely reactive.

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

There's no sense in using surrogates to pursue United States national interests.

Never for a moment, have the responsible and instructed statesmen in charge of the foreign affairs of the United States failed to consider themselves bound to insist upon this policy .... Almost every President and Secretary of State has re-stated the doctrine with vigor and emphasis in the discussion of the diplomatic affairs of his day.

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

In the aftermath of September 11, it has been made clear to us that our foreign policy can no longer afford to narrowly focus on short-term benefits. For our nation's long-term security, we must be active in promoting American values abroad through our foreign policy.

The American people deserve an honest assessment of the state of our foreign affairs.

Foreign policy is important.

Foreign policy must be about priorities. The United States cannot do everything everywhere.

I challenge anybody to say that I wouldn't know how to approach foreign policy because, unlike some of the other people, I at least have a foreign policy philosophy, which is an extension of the Reagan philosophy. Peace through strength, and my philosophy is peace through strength and clarity.

Nixon was an awful president in many ways, including in some of his foreign-policy choices. But he left no doubt that foreign policy and America's leadership in the world outside its borders was of paramount importance to him.

Obama's foreign policy is strangely self-centered, focused on himself and the United States rather than on the conduct and needs of the nations the United States allies with, engages with, or must confront.

Diplomacy is not an end in itself if it does not advance U.S. interests.

I remain committed to a balanced policy, which will protect our national interests both on our eastern border - I mean with Russia - and of course with the European Union.

Roosevelt was the one who had the vision to change our policy from isolationism to world leadership. That was a terrific revolution. Our country's never been the same since.

Foreign policy is really domestic policy with its hat on.

We need a foreign policy that distinguishes America's friends from her enemies, and recognizes the true threats that we face.

Someone has said that nations have interests, they don't have friends, and you see that over and over in U.S. policy.

The principles that should guide American foreign policy are simple: the world is safer when America leads, only strength ensures peace and freedom, and America must stand with its allies and challenge its adversaries.

Our foreign policy needs to support our energy, economic, defense and domestic policies. It all falls within the arch of national interest. There will be windows of opportunity, but they will open and close quickly.

David Cameron's approach has left Britain weakened and weary because to retreat from the world is as foolish as it is futile.

My view of foreign policy is that we need to be careful and circumspect about United States intervention in any foreign nation.

The State Department desperately needs to be vigorously harnessed. It has too big a role to play in the formulation of foreign policy, and foreign policy is too important to be left up to foreign service officers.

Foreign Policy has to be less foreign.