“I believe the military should be wary of diplomacy until war is declared; then the State Department should keep its nose out and let the military do whatever is necessary to win.” ShouldBelieveWarStatesWinningI BelieveMilitaryNosesDepartmentDiplomacy Author:Stuart Symington
“Diplomats are useful only in fair weather. As soon as it rains they drown in every drop.” MilitaryRainFairsWeatherDiplomacyDiplomats Author:Charles de Gaulle
“Simply put, we have to be smart about how we use our power. Not because we have less of it indeed, the might of our military, the size of our economy, the influence of our diplomacy, and the creative energy of our people remain unrivaled. No, it's because as the world has changed, so too have the levers of power that can most effectively shape international affairs.” PeopleWorldUseMightEnergyEconomyCreativeInfluenceMilitaryChangedShapesSmartAffairInternationalSizeDiplomacyBeing SmartLeversCreative EnergyInternational Affairs Author:Hillary Clinton
“It has become clear that America's civilian institutions of diplomacy and development have been chronically undermanned and underfunded for far too long - relative to what we spend on the military, and more important, relative to the responsibilities and challenges our nation has around the world.” WorldLongHas BeensImportantAmericaNationsChallengesResponsibilityClearMilitaryDevelopmentInstitutionsAround The WorldRelativeDiplomacyCivilians Author:Robert M. Gates
“There is no question in my mind that if we summon our resources, both our leadership resources and all of the tools at our disposal, not just military force, which should be used as a last resort, but our diplomacy, our development aid, law enforcement, sharing of intelligence in a much more open and cooperative way. We can bring people together, but it cannot be an American fight.” PeopleIfsWayShouldMindTogetherLastsLawUsedForceMilitaryDevelopmentResourcesToolsAidsLaw EnforcementEnforcementDiplomacyResortsCooperativesMilitary ForceDevelopment Aid Author:Hillary Clinton
“Let me be clear: I'm a believer in a robust military, which is essential for backing up diplomacy. But the implication is that we need a balanced tool chest of diplomatic and military tools alike. Instead, we have a billionaire military and a pauper diplomacy. The U.S. military now has more people in its marching bands than the State Department has in its foreign service - and that's preposterous.” PeopleNeedsStatesClearMilitaryBandEssentialsToolsLet MeBelieverDepartmentChestsBalancedDiplomacyImplicationsBillionaireDiplomaticRobustMarching BandBacking UpForeign Service Author:Nicholas D. Kristof
“At present, the United States, with over 700 foreign military bases, navies in every ocean, a programme to militarise space, and drone bases planned for all regions of the world, is increasingly perceived in relation to its hard power diplomacy, a threat to political independence and stability for many countries.” WorldCountryHardStatesPoliticalSpaceUnitedUnited StatesMilitaryOceanBasesRelationIndependenceThreatRegionsStabilityDiplomacyNavyProgrammesDronesMilitary BasesPolitical Independence Author:Richard A. Falk
“We also need to look at precedent before making these decisions. Instead of listening to Muammar Qaddafi's rhetoric, we should look at how he's behaved. The fact is he's been making concessions recently. He gave up his nuclear weapons. He allowed hundreds of Americans to evacuate Tripoli. Did he crack down on his people who revolted? Yes, but that's not so unusual. For me, it's always a failure of diplomacy. Our willingness to immediately turn to a military solution is disturbing.” PeopleDecisionMilitaryListeningSolutionsWillingnessUnusualNuclear WeaponsRhetoricDiplomacyGave Up Author:Michael Hastings