One of the things I write about a bit in my Madam…
“One of the things I write about a bit in my Madam Secretary memoir is on Rwanda, where I was an instructed ambassador at the U.N., and my instructions were to not vote for increased forces there, and I didn't like my instructions. So I got up and called Washington and said, "Change my instructions," and they didn't.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
She challenged directives to avoid voting for increased forces in Rwanda, but her request was denied.
In simple terms: Defied orders, but change refused.
Key Takeaway
Advocate for ethical policy decisions.
Themes
ethics
policy
agency
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- UN negotiations
- government directives
- human rights
Key Concepts
military intervention
diplomacy
Questions to Reflect On
- When should you obey orders?
- How to influence policy from within?
A Different Perspective
Institutional inertia can block reform.