Barton Gellman Quotes

It would be a foolish high representative who worked that way.

I think Chinese leadership is trying to tell the world they have another set of logic or reasoning or values which are different from yours. Of course, I don't think they believe that. It's just an argument that's made when you can't confront the truth and facts. They really want to maintain power.

Diplomacy, contrary to the current misconception, is not about making nice, exchanging happy talk, and offering concessions. It is the engine that converts raw energy and tangible power into meaningful political results. In other words, diplomacy is all about the intelligent use of power. Diplomacy is not an alternative to coercion and other forms of power; its effectiveness depends on their skillful use.

The American president isn't just the American president. He's going to be the leader of the whole Western world, you know? You got a pretty big responsibility.

American power worldwide is at its historic zenith.

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

If America wants to retain its position as a global power, its president must listen to the people and show strong leadership at this turning point in human history.

And this system sorted out the Chechen war in just 20 days. This way, I used the President's power, he didn't use me. It wasn't hard for me to leave - it isn't my scene. I have nothing to do there.

Leadership in today's world requires far more than a large stock of gunboats and a hard fist at the conference table.

The Democrats just don't have a foreign policy that they're willing to defend, that they're willing to use to take down the president's. We're dealing with the power of suggestion here.

No politician has ever yet been able to rule his country, nor has any country ever yet been able to face the world, upon the principles of the Sermon on the Mount.

Wars are fought for political considerations. Military victory alone is never enough

You'd make a great Secretary of State because State Department personnel don't answer questions completely either.

If we are going to lead the world, we have to know where it is.

Very near the heart of all foreign affairs is the relationship between policy and military power.

Politics are almost as exciting as war.

The first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.

It's a very popular sport [in America] to talk about power struggle[s] in the Kremlin.

Diplomacy [is] ... the art of restraining power.

Diplomacy, is persuasion in the shadow of power.

Diplomacy is a little bit like Jazz. It’s improvisation on a theme.

Multinational unions are created in a search for more power. This leads either to irresponsible warfare as a result of meddling in foreign affairs, or to irresponsible alliances.

We were quite naïve about the use of American power.

Power is the true reserve currency in international affairs.

I fear German power less than I am beginning to fear is inactivity.