Robert Kagan
Robert Kagan
Robert Kaganis an American historian, author, columnist, and foreign-policy commentator. Kagan is often characterized as a leading neoconservative, but prefers to call himself a "liberal interventionist"...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionWriter
Date of Birth26 September 1958
CountryUnited States of America
military opposites hammers
When you have a hammer, all problems start to look like nails. But nations without great military power face the opposite danger: When you don't have a hammer, you don't want anything to look like nails.
hammers looks nails
When you have a hammer, all problems start to look like nails.
almost avoided begun developed european faith form key legal military miracle partly political power sort strong view
Europe, partly because of the sort of political miracle it accomplished on the European continent, has developed a very strong faith in international institutions, international legal mechanisms, as the key to international order, and have really begun to view military power as an illegitimate form of activity, but in any case, something that is to be avoided at almost all costs.
britain cuts itself major national player taken
Britain has taken itself out as a major player in the international system, at least for a while, with the kind of cuts that they've made in their national security budget.
power
The thing that I would say is that U.S. power is not eternal. I am not saying that it won't come to an end. Because it will.
america based criteria cultural dominance economic military number players power remains though
Based on all criteria - military power, economic influence, cultural dominance - America remains number one, even though other, new players are increasingly challenging it in that role.
almost american-writer attitudes eastern europe maybe notice western
Well, I think he's right to notice that there is a difference in attitudes and even in the broadest sense of world view between Eastern Europe and Western Europe. Which is old and which is new is an interesting question, and I almost think that maybe he's got it backwards.
congress consistent deal effect effort futile gesture maintain principle reject relations somehow
Were Congress somehow to reject the Administration's deal in some effort to maintain a consistent principle on non-proliferation, it would have no effect on Iran's decisions. But that futile gesture would have a devastating effect on US relations with India.
answer iran political
The non-military answer in Iran is political change.
best choice endorse leaders military
Under our Constitution, military leaders have no choice but to endorse the president's decision after giving him their best advice.
assumption countries deal direct immediate impact leadership perception president
The international perception of the U.S. leadership is hobbled, ... The assumption is, the president is weak. And this has a direct and immediate impact on the way other countries deal with us.
american-writer last question west
How long that will last is another question because if they become more and more secure, they may, in fact, become more like West Europe.
venus littles mars
Americans are from Mars, Europeans are from Venus: they agree on little and understand each other less and less.
military opportunity views
In my view, America has never had the opportunity to enter paradise. Europe enjoys the paradise it enjoys, in part because the United States provides the overall security that allows Europe to live in a system where military power is not a major issue.