Nationalism is like cheap alcohol. First it makes you drunk, then it makes you blind, then it kills you.

I am not one of these people that believes that Russia is doomed, or somehow, you know, inevitably disposed to act according to its worst traditions. But all the more reason, therefore, to resist their aggression and take it seriously.

Partisanship is not part of my professional makeup.

Remember, the American grand strategy works when other countries feel secure. But it doesn't work if we acquiesce in the aggression of other countries.

Both the Bush people and [Barack] Obama people had no problem working with the holdovers. They weren`t out to get them.

There is nothing wrong when the Trump administration says it wants to find areas of common ground to work with Russia - perfectly reasonable. The question is, are you willing to pay the Russians in advance for the privilege of working with them in areas that are supposed to be of common interest, and that - I don't see the American interest in doing so.

Internal reform in Russia would require a better relationship with the West.