Edward Lewis Morse Quotes

That should be a goal of U. S. policy—not to get along with dictators.

We will never again permit any foreign nation to have Uncle Sam over a barrel of oil.

Our foreign policy has made a wreck of this planet. I'm always in Africa... And when I go to these places I see American policy written on the walls of oppression everywhere.

Look, I don't think President Obama would have bowed to the ruler of Saudi Arabia if he didn't have oil to the degree that the Saudis do. I think they and other producing states, almost all of whom, except Norway and Canada, are dictatorships or autocratic systems, have thrown their weight around because of oil.

America simply prefers to deal with dictators.

His Imperial Highness, the Czar of All the Russias, has issued a manifesto in favor of universal disarmament …. whatever seriousness there is in his latest pronouncement may be translated into an appeal to his brother despots throughout Europe to cease warring with each other in order that their hands may be free to throttle the infant liberty in their own dominions.

Cambodia is an independent country that is the slave of two.

It’s not a dictatorship in the United States. But it is dictatorial to the rest of the world. Who’s going to say no?

The Persian Gulf region would have zero strategic importance were it not for the oil.

As a young nation, pursuing industry in every channel, and adventuring commerce in every sea. It is highly important that we should not only have a pacific character, but that we should really deserve it. If we manifest an unwarrantable ambition, and a rage for conquest, we unite all the great powers of Europe against us.

Show this administration an oil well, and it will show you a foreign policy.

No great power will allow itself to be strangulated.

When foreign affairs were ruled by autocracies or oligarchies the danger of war was in sinister purpose. When foreign affairs are ruled by democracies the danger of war will be in mistaken beliefs.

I am so angry with that infernal, little, Cuban republic that I would like to wipe its people off the face of the earth. All that we wanted from them is that they would behave themselves and be prosperous and happy so that we would not have to interfere.

Too close and unthinking an allegiance to Washington has sometimes got British governments into trouble.

America's sanctions policy is largely consistent and, in a certain sense, admirable. By applying economic restraints, we label the most oppressive and dangerous governments in the world pariahs. We wash our hands of evil, declining to help despots finance their depredations, even at a cost to ourselves of some economic growth.

Historically, we were always complaining about others interfering in our domestic and national issues.

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

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.

Our alliances should be understood as a means to expand our influence, not as a constraint on our power. The expansion of democracy and freedom in the world should be a shared interest and value with all nations.

I wish Obama would focus on governing the United States and would forget his country's imperialist pretensions.

I will begin my presidency with a jobs tour. President Obama began with an apology tour. America, he said, had dictated to other nations. No Mr. President, America has freed other nations from dictators.

The reality is that we are hated not because of our democracy, freedoms, and generous social security system; rather, we are hated because of our involvement in foreign conflicts and quarrels that were never our concern.

It is probable that England will look favorably upon the independence of the Philippines, for it will open their ports to her and afford greater freedom to her commerce.

President Obama, like every other leader on Earth, is still going to be looking out for national and economic interests. States don't cease to be states overnight just because they get a great visionary as their new president.