To declare the Cold War over, and declare democracy has won out over totalitarianism, is a measure of arrogance and wrong-headedness.

Then came the hostage crisis during which Carter did nothing to rattle the ayatollahs who hung tough until Ronald Reagan was inaugurated, when they suddenly backed down.

Sooner or later something had to give. But President Bush, faced with the unprecedented affront of 9-11, could not wait to take action. So he had to do what we were capable of doing, and he did it brilliantly.

To declare the Cold War over, and declare democracy has won out over totalitarianism, is a measure of arrogance and wrong-headedness.

The warning message we sent the Russians was a calculated ambiguity that would be clearly understood.

You have to look at the history of the Middle East in particular. It has been one of failure and frustration, of feudalism and tribalism.

Propaganda was an important arm of the Soviet diplomacy, very important.