The Europeans must finally understand the incredible shock triggered by the attacks of September 11.
Brent ScowcroftRussia right now is searching for its soul. It's trying to figure out what it really is.
Brent ScowcroftSince the days of Peter the Great, Russians have been maybe Europeans who didn't share in the enlightenment and the reformation, or are they Mongol Asians with the European veneer. And they've gone back and forth.
Brent ScowcroftAmerica is stronger than any state probably since the Roman Empire. But we can't do what used to be done with that kind of strength.
Brent ScowcroftBecause national borders are eroding, because of the growth of non-state actors. It's a different kind of a world. We are tied down by a tiny little country - Iraq. It's amazing, given the disparity in military economic strength. It's a world where most of the big problems spill over national boundaries, and there are new kinds of actors and we're feeling our way as to how to deal with them.
Brent Scowcroft