Reuven Rivlin Quotes

Generally speaking, Rand Paul is been more wrong than right. He has an isolationist view of the world that I don't share.

I have always thought that foreign-policy idealism has to be tempered with realism.

Most foreign policies that history has marked highly, in whatever country, have been originated by leaders who were opposed by experts.

No American witnessing the way that President George W. Bush and his generals have bungled the Iraq war can deny that our leaders, civilian and military alike, will have to get a lot smarter if the U.S. armed services are to persuade the Islamic world to embrace the blessings of democracy.

I don't think that experience is a very useful or convincing attribute for a sensible foreign policy. Henry Kissinger had a lot of experience.

Gentlemen, I have spent the night thinking about this Peruvian (peace) initiative and I have to tell you that if it is your decision to accept then you will have to find another Prime Minister.

We need a dramatically expanded use of statecraft.

The most important thing I learned as a foreign correspondent in about 80 countries is that it takes a very shallow knowledge of history to think that there are solutions to most problems.

An effective U.S. policy toward Sudan - one capable of changing the situation in the south and affecting the lives of its people - will require top-level attention and a great deal of energy. It should have three elements: aid, diplomacy, and financial disclosure.

I don't want to force the peacekeeping nations to feel like I'm pushing them out.

Liberals should not overplay this weapons of mass destruction card, because you want me to tell you the truth? Most of us are not going to care if they don't find these weapons of mass destruction. It's enough for a lot of us to see those kids smiling on that street again.

Americans are inclined to see the world and foreign affairs in black and white.

The U.N. is much more than the case of Iraq.

Britain does not normally these days play a huge part in peacekeeping.

When I am speaking about American presidents, I have to speak about my very special relations with President Clinton. He contributed more to peace than anybody else in the American sense.

I think if you're going to master policy, especially world affairs, you've got to know history.

I'm not apologetic with respect to the policies of the Bush administration. I think we basically got it right.

Foreign policy is like human relations, only people know less about each other.

I think Tony Blair has to come down on one side or the other. You can't be a half-hearted supporter of the possible attack on Iraq. You're either with George Bush or you're against him.

The Americans have taken the course of confrontation and do not assess their own steps critically at all.

Every new president flatters himself that he, kinder and gentler, is beginning the world anew. Yet, when Barack Obama in his inaugural address reached out to Muslims by saying, 'To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect,' his formulation was needlessly defensive and apologetic.

Germany must be a country which generates political ideas and leadership, which is capable of compromise, which is sovereign and yet knows that it needs its partners on both sides of the Atlantic.

I don't much believe in bumper sticker characterizations of foreign policy.

I am the Counselor at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

I think you will find scientists that think like you in Germany and Britain, and you will find politicians that think like Weinberger. I think the most bellicose ruling group in the Western world at the moment is the British.