Imposing democracy through force is a roll of the dice.

Institutions are imperfect. Governments surely are. People are.

Foreign policy is all about a universe of bad decisions, imperfect decisions; every situation is different. The dynamics, the atmospherics, the people, the pressures, the geopolitical realities shift.

Alliances and international organizations should be understood as opportunities for leadership and a means to expand our influence, not as constraints on our power.

It is easy to get into war, not so easy to get out.

I would not trade America's position in the world - our ledger, our debts and assets - for any country in the world. There isn't a country in the world even close to America.

There are always consequences to actions that you take. There are consequences to inaction. And thinking through, asking the questions, "Well, then what happens? What comes next?" is critically important.