Political Quotes

“I want to make this clear, this should not be interpreted as an anti-NATO-expansion argument. Indeed, I would tell those who are in favor of a full-fledged unrestricted NATO expansion that it is in their interests to be supportive of burdensharing. Franklin Roosevelt was described once by John Kennedy in a phrase that is very important for Members to remember. When John Kennedy began the Alliance for Progress and he looked back to Franklin Roosevelt's Good Neighbor Policy as a first step toward a recognition of mutual interest, he said that Franklin Roosevelt was able to be a good neighbor abroad because he was a good neighbor at home. The American people will more willingly support international engagement militarily, economically, and other sorts, if they feel they are being treated fairly, if they do not think it is coming at their expense. The United States, I believe, is prepared to support foreign assistance to people in need, to deal with disease and poverty and economic development. But I think the American people understandably say with regard to France and England and Germany and Denmark and Belgium, and some of the wealthiest and most successful societies in the world, countries that have already benefited greatly from our generosity, that it is time for them not to subsidize us, but no longer to be subsidized by us.”