Political Quotes

“look. We got involved against Saddam Hussein because we were able to explain the vital direct national interests of the United States, we were able to get the support of the American people and we had a good timetable. We made a mistake in Lebanon, we made a mistake in Somalia in the middle of a civil war. See, the fact is that when we engage in conflicts that represent ethnic strife or civil wars where there is not a clear American interest, and an achievable goal and a timetable to get in and get out, what happens is a superpower entangles itself all over the globe, and George Washington warned us in the beginning of his administration, at the beginning of our country, that a great power that entangles itself in too many places in the world will diminish itself. So the challenge for the United States is to literally define the direct national interests of the United States whenever we go and for our leaders to gather the support of the American people, and to have a good goal and to have a good timetable. Short of that, short of being able to answer those questions affirmatively, then the United States needs to preserve its power, because in preserving its power and at the same time using it successfully, we will enhance a great power. To use it wantonly around the world without answering this affirmatively will diminish us over time. I believe that the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Fowler) is right tonight.…”