Barack Obama Quotes

The most fundamental purpose of government is defense, not empire.

Moscow believes that using force constitutes strategic defense.

As a former secretary of defense, I think Donald Rumsfeld is the best secretary of defense the United States has ever had.

Judge candidly what a wretched figure the American empire will exhibit in the eye of other nations, without a power to array and support a military force for its own protection.

In accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the issues of foreign policy and defense are fully in the hands of the president.

A nation which defends itself demands the respect of all. Such a nation cannot perish.

The Defense Department has a great deal of influence on foreign policy, and State has very little impact on defense policy.

The Monroe doctrine is simply a doctrine of self-defense. It does not consist of any agreement between the United States and any country in the Western Hemisphere or anywhere else.

The organizing premise of any nation's foreign policy is the protection of the homeland.

We do not want a single foot of foreign territory; but of our territory we shall not surrender a single inch to anyone.

Anti-Western resentment and Russian patriotism appear particularly pronounced in Putin’s personality and life experiences, but a different Russian government not run by former KGB types would still be confronted with the challenge of weakness vis-à-vis the West and the desire for a special role in the world. Russia’s foreign policy orientation, in other words, is as much a condition as a choice. But if Russian elites could somehow redefine their sense of exceptionalism and put aside their unwinnable competition with the West, they could set their country on a less costly, more promising course.

I don't want to be creating new foreign policy for - for my country or in any way to distance myself in the foreign policy of - of our nation, but we respect the right of a nation to defend itself.

If you look ahead 10 years, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the people of Russia had become fans of missile defence.

Don Rumsfeld is the finest secretary of defense the nation has ever had.

If Russia's interests and security are threatened, Russia will resist. Everyone needs to know that.

It's more of a strength model to say that [Vladimir] Putin will do what it takes to defend his country. But that's why Putin is dangerous and Russia is a major cause of concern for us .

I mean if there are going to be missiles that are going off and there are going to be going off over Canadian airspace whether we want it or not, no I don't think that is acceptable. I think that we want to be at the table.

If Israel is forced to stand alone, Israel will stand alone.

A nation with a goofy foreign policy needs a very serious policy of defense.

I believe that when we overdo our military aggressiveness, what it does it actually weakens our national defense. I mean, we stood up to the Soviets. They had 40,000 nuclear weapons. Now we're fretting day in and day - night about third-world countries that have no army, navy or air force.

We don't need a head of state who guts our defenses and draws phony red lines with a pink crayon.

The purpose of U.S. foreign policy is protecting the security of Americans, not crusading for goodness abroad.

Diplomacy and defense are not substitutes for one another. Either alone would fail.

I firmly believe that the reputation of any country which is capable of defending the life and dignity of its citizens, and can conduct independent foreign policy will only improve in mid- and long-term perspective.