Robert Taft Quotes

Criticism in a time of war is essential to the maintenance of any kind of democratic government.

If you say something that undermines the stability of the country, then you have to be held accountable.

Whoever, when the United States is at war, shall willfully make or convey false reports or false statements with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the military or naval forces of the United States, or to promote the success of its enemies, or shall willfully make or convey false reports, or false statements, or say or do anything with intent to obstruct the sale by the United States of bonds ... or the making of loans by or to the United States, or whoever, when the United States is at war, shall willfully cause ... or incite ... insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty, in the military or naval forces of the United States, or shall willfully obstruct ... the recruiting or enlistment service of the United States, and whoever, when the United States is at war, shall willfully utter, print, write, or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the form of government of the United States, or the Constitution of the United States, or the military or naval forces of the United States, or the flag … or the uniform of the Army or Navy of the United States, or any language intended to bring the form of government ... or the Constitution … or the military or naval forces … or the flag … of the United States into contempt, scorn, contumely, or disrepute … or shall willfully display the flag of any foreign enemy, or shall willfully … urge, incite, or advocate any curtailment of production in this country of any thing or things … necessary or essential to the prosecution of the war … and whoever shall willfully advocate, teach, defend, or suggest the doing of any of the acts or things in this section enumerated and whoever shall by word or act support or favor the cause of any country with which the United States is at war or by word or act oppose the cause of the United States therein, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than twenty years, or both

The cry has been that when war is declared, all opposition should therefore be hushed. A sentiment more unworthy of a free country should hardly be propagated. If the doctrine be admitted, rulers have only to declare war and they are screened at once from scrutiny.

Do not criticize your government when out of the country. Never cease to do so when at home.

When a nation is at war many things that might be said in time of peace are such a hindrance to its efforts that their utterance will not be endured.

Save Freedom of Speech. Buy War Bonds. War Bonds Are Cheaper Than Wooden Crosses

We don't have a prayer of staying in Vietnam. But I can't give up a piece of territory as big as South Vietnam and still have the people re-elect me.

They are people who, by and large, think the Administration's policy - and the Iranian case is a classic one - is very stupid. They can't get that view in, and so by talking to me, they accomplish something. It's a way of saying, this ought to be discussed, we got to get this out. That's a form of patriotism, in a funny way.

During the early months of the war in 1914 there was a conflict of opinion between the War Office and the Foreign Office regarding news from the Front.

People have a very political way of looking at war, and that's understandable.

In Iran, people are free to express their views. Every day, some people criticize the policies of the government.

Especially right after 9/11. Especially when the war in Afghanistan is going on. There was a real sense that you don't get that critical of a government that's leading us in war time.

It was essentially for self defence that we went to war in Afghanistan and would go to war in Iraq.

I allowed Rick Santorum to express views and ideas that the American people never would have had expressed.

And if that's what the American people want, then that's what the policy should be, of course. But the idea that anything in the United States is too sensitive to discuss or too dangerous to discuss is really, I think, absurd.

When people don't understand that the government doesn't have their interests in mind, they're more susceptible to go to war.

To announce that there must be no criticism of the president... is morally treasonable to the American public.

The military has been determined to control the images of war since Vietnam. They're convinced that they lost the war because of loss of political support back home, because people saw what was going on.

Less than 1 percent of American have served in 12 years of war, and serious public conversation about military policy is sorely lacking.

The job of the reporters in Vietnam was to report the news, whether or not the news was good for America. To the ambassadors and generals, on the other hand, it was crucial that the news be good, and they regarded any other interpretation as defeatist and irresponsible.

When the political and military levels … want to initiate operational war they want to gain as much public support as possible. So whether they do it deliberately or not, they tend to promise that it will be much better than the way that it really could be. Now when the reality comes true and suddenly the results … are different from the expectations and the promises, then the frustration comes to be a very important factor.

... Japanese future action unpredictable but hostile action possible at any moment. If hostilities cannot be avoided, the United States desires that Japan commit the first overt act. This policy should not be construed as restricting you to a course of action that might jeopardize your defense. Prior to hostile Japanese action you are directed to undertake such reconnaissance and other measures as you deem necessary but these measures should be carried out so as not to alarm civil population or disclose intent.

In a democracy, expressing disagreement with the government’s actions does not amount to sedition or insurrection—it is, and must remain, protected speech.

One makes mistakes in every war.