Stephen Kinzer Quotes

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Stephen Kinzer

Profession : Author

Birth : August 4, 1951

Weapons systems the U.S. sold to the Shah of Iran wound up in the hands of Islamic militants who seized power there in 1979; a comparable scenario in Saudi Arabia is hardly impossible.

Stephen Kinzer

Few living figures could contribute as much as Castro to our understanding of the second half of the 20th century.

Stephen Kinzer

Castro has lived almost his entire life as a clandestine revolutionary. To such figures, truth is always malleable, always subservient to political goals.

Stephen Kinzer

Was Castro sincere when, during his guerrilla war, he swore that he was not a Communist? If so, when did he change, and why? Looking back, does he believe he might have chosen a better course?

Stephen Kinzer

Revolutionaries who come to power by force of arms usually have great crimes in their background. Leaders who survive campaigns by great powers to destroy them do not survive because they observe the niceties of law. Subversives who shape world events by covert action and violence work in shadows and detest the light of day.

Stephen Kinzer

For decades, Turkey was widely viewed as a reliable NATO ally: prickly at times, but safely in America's corner.

Stephen Kinzer

Turkey and Brazil, though half a world apart geographically, have much in common. Both are large countries that spent long years under military dominance, but have broken with that history and made decisive steps towards full democracy.

Stephen Kinzer

The key to Turkey's success has been its ability to reinvent itself as times change.

Stephen Kinzer

In his tub-thumping speech at the 2008 Republican National Convention, Romney sounded like the hedge-fund tycoon he is.

Stephen Kinzer

Romney is a classic case of re-invention. As governor of Massachusetts, he supported government-sponsored healthcare, was sympathetic to gay rights, and opposed harsh restrictions on abortion. After measuring the difference between the Massachusetts electorate and the national one to which he must now appeal, he has reversed those positions.

Stephen Kinzer

Canada, Australia and New Zealand have apologised for their treatment of native peoples.

Stephen Kinzer

Alliances and partnerships produce stability when they reflect realities and interests.

Stephen Kinzer

No authoritarian leader cedes power easily or turns it over to bodies he cannot control.

Stephen Kinzer

Samarkand, with its magnificent mosques, tombs and dazzling ensembles of ceramic tiles, is still one of the world's most awe-inspiring cities.

Stephen Kinzer

During the Cold War, the non-aligned movement tried to become a 'third force' in world politics, but failed because it was too large and unwieldy.

Stephen Kinzer

Because Iranians have had to fight so long and painfully for political freedom, they have a deep appreciation for its value - perhaps deeper than many in the West who take their electoral rights for granted.

Stephen Kinzer

Iran, in its former incarnation as Persia, created the world's first empire, produced titanic figures like Cyrus, Darius, and Xerxes, and is one of the great fonts of world culture.

Stephen Kinzer

Western powers remain imprisoned by the idea that the world is a dangerous place, that it needs to be managed, and that they are called upon to do the managing.

Stephen Kinzer

The capture, taming, training and keeping of eagles is highly ritualized. Most of the birds, which have a life span of about 40 years, are caught when very young - either snatched from a nest or trapped in a baited net.

Stephen Kinzer

It is never wise to discourage youthful idealism.

Stephen Kinzer