American power in the world relies on these ideals of openness and critical debate.

Terrorism is like jujitsu: The small players win if they make the large player use his strength against himself.

Power is the ability to affect others to get the outcomes you want, and that can be done by coercion, payment or attraction.

America rests on shared values rather than shared ethnicity.

His [Osama bin Laden]excessive use of terror, including numerous attacks that indiscriminately killed many women and children, and of course many Muslims, has hurt the attractiveness of his message.

America should find its interests in ways which are more consistent with the interests of other countries, which are things that are good for us but also good for others. That will make Americans exporters of hope again, not exporters of fear.

Democracy is the best school to learn soft power.