Nouhad Mahmoud Quotes
Let’s use our brain power and not our fire power and we will get somewhere.
Unfortunately, the Hezbollah part which controlled much of Lebanon was committed to the “disappearance” of Israel. Mr. Mahmoud’s government could not implement any solution that might be attempted because it was too weak to prevent armed militias from following whatever policies they wished without any regard for the Lebanese government.
Nouhad Mahmoud, Lebanese Ambassador to the United Nations, Advocating diplomatic, non-military means of settlement of the Arab Israeli dispute, NBC Meet the Press, July 30, 2006
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
For various historical reasons the United States and Iran at that time had no diplomatic relations and there was no easy way for the countries to negotiate their differences. The United States public policy was that Iran would not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon which was backed up by severe economic sanctions and the threat of military force. Kucinich wanted face to face negotiations and discussions before we resorted to military action.
When there is a serious problem with another country and it appears that military force may have to be used, he and most sophisticated policy makers argue that we should always try diplomacy first. If that does not work, then the military option is still open. If it does work, war or other military action is always available as an option. When politicians do not want to try diplomacy, it is usually that they have an ulterior motive for war and/or military force. Some urge caution with this principle in all cases as sometimes it gives the enemy time to regroup and rearm and he gets stronger by stringing out the negotiations with no intention of a diplomatic solution. In some other cases, as Iran in the second decade of the 21st century when they were suspected of developing a nuclear weapon. The Israeli right wing and some American conservatives wanted no delay in use of military force as that might allow the Iranians to complete an operational message. President Obama and most Americans favored strong economic sanctions with diplomacy first.
The issue of force verses diplomacy has been in debate at almost all times. However, the issue of the conflict with Islam is much the same today—almost 1000 years later
The first Jew to run for the Vice Presidency on a major party ticket.
The Chancellor was referring to the United States George W. Bush proposal for war with Iraq.
This appears to be the first American utterance of a longstanding doctrine of foreign policy.
