--- title: "13 Ifs Quotes By Zbigniew Brzezinski" description: "13 Ifs quotes by Zbigniew Brzezinski. Plus more from Zbigniew Brzezinski and more Ifs sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/102/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_cybersecurity_the-eastern-europeans-invested-too-many_2295501.jpg" --- > [The Eastern Europeans invested too many of their hopes in the notion that somehow or other the missile shield, even if directed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-eastern-europeans-invested-too-many-of-their-hopes-in-the-notion/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/102/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_cybersecurity_the-eastern-europeans-invested-too-many_2295501.jpg) > [I think if NATO haven't expanded, we would have a no-man's zone between the E.U. and NATO and Russia, and that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/i-think-if-nato-haven-t-expanded-we-would-have-a-no-man-s-zone/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb9/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_dangerous_i-think-if-nato-haven-t-expanded-we-woul_1054967.jpg) > [I think the US has the right to have its own national security policy. I think most Americans would agree with that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/i-think-the-us-has-the-right-to-have-its-own-national-security-policy/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_agree_i-think-the-us-has-the-right-to-have-its_2107800.jpg) > [Iraq may have been a preview of that, but it's still redeemable if we get out fast. In a war with Iran,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/iraq-may-have-been-a-preview-of-that-but-it-s-still-redeemable-if-we/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_has-beens_iraq-may-have-been-a-preview-of-that-but_315489.jpg) > [However, if Moscow regains control over Ukraine, with its 52 million people and major resources as well as access to the Black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/however-if-moscow-regains-control-over-ukraine-with-its-52-million/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_access_however-if-moscow-regains-control-over-u_868736.jpg) > [The kind of problem that America faces in Iraq is a little bit the kind of problem that Israel faced in dealing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-kind-of-problem-that-america-faces-in-iraq-is-a-little-bit-the/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_absorbing_the-kind-of-problem-that-america-faces-i_1878477.jpg) > [There are major disappointments with the outcomes of Solidarity: corruption, and major pockets of economic backwardness and even poverty. By and large,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/there-are-major-disappointments-with-the-outcomes-of-solidarity/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cb/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_choices_there-are-major-disappointments-with-the_778819.jpg) > [In the longer run, I happen to think that Russia really has no choice but to become gradually more associated with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/in-the-longer-run-i-happen-to-think-that-russia-really-has-no-choice/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_china_in-the-longer-run-i-happen-to-think-that_113319.jpg) > [The notion that somehow or another they'll (Iran) put it in a picnic basket and hand it to some terrorist group is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-notion-that-somehow-or-another-they-ll-iran-put-it-in-a-picnic/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20f/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_argument_the-notion-that-somehow-or-another-they_3193785.jpg) > [I don't think there is an implicit obligation for the United States to follow like a stupid mule whatever the Israelis do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/i-don-t-think-there-is-an-implicit-obligation-for-the-united-states/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_assumption_i-don-t-think-there-is-an-implicit-oblig_1641411.jpg) > [The political awakening that is happening worldwide is a major challenge for America, because it means that the world is much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-political-awakening-that-is-happening-worldwide-is-a-major/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_age_the-political-awakening-that-is-happenin_2771656.jpg) > [America is the only superpower. But our leadership is being tested in the Middle East, and some of the things that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/america-is-the-only-superpower-but-our-leadership-is-being-tested-in/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_addresses_america-is-the-only-superpower-but-our-l_1228944.jpg) > [Once the Eastern Bloc collapsed, what I call 'historical spontaneity' prevailed and the countries that were subject to Soviet control naturally gravitated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/once-the-eastern-bloc-collapsed-what-i-call-historical-spontaneity/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae2/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_country_once-the-eastern-bloc-collapsed-what-i-c_3224406.jpg) ## Other authors on Ifs ## More by Zbigniew Brzezinski > [The United States can certainly defeat North Vietnam, but the United States cannot defeat a guerrilla war which is being raged from a sanctuary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-united-states-can-certainly-defeat-north-vietnam-but-the-united/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [The future is inherently full of discontinuities, and lessons of the past must be applied with enormous caution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-future-is-inherently-full-of-discontinuities-and-lessons-of-the/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Look at Islam in a rational manner and without demagoguery or emotion. It is the leading religion of the world with 1.5 billion followers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/look-at-islam-in-a-rational-manner-and-without-demagoguery-or-emotion/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [A waning United States would likely be more nationalistic, more defensive about its national identity, more paranoid about its homeland security, and less willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/a-waning-united-states-would-likely-be-more-nationalistic-more/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Peace between Israel and Palestine would be a giant step toward greater regional stability, and it would finally let both Israelis and Palestinians benefit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/peace-between-israel-and-palestine-would-be-a-giant-step-toward/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [It is axiomatic that the security of America and Europe are linked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/it-is-axiomatic-that-the-security-of-america-and-europe-are-linked/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [In the longer run, I happen to think that Russia really has no choice but to become gradually more associated with the Euro-Atlantic community.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/in-the-longer-run-i-happen-to-think-that-russia-really-has-no-choice/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Basically, I see Iran as an authentic nation-state. And that authentic identity gives it cohesion, which most of the Middle East lacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/basically-i-see-iran-as-an-authentic-nation-state-and-that-authentic/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Like so many empires before it, the Soviet Union eventually imploded and fragmented, falling victim not so much to a direct military defeat as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/like-so-many-empires-before-it-the-soviet-union-eventually-imploded/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [In Iraq we must succeed. Failure is not an option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/in-iraq-we-must-succeed-failure-is-not-an-option/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [One has to define very clearly what one's objectives are, determine in advance how much one is prepared to pay to achieve that objective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/one-has-to-define-very-clearly-what-one-s-objectives-are-determine-in/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Saddam Hussein was an odious dictator, but he was also a very effective opponent of Iran. He was also a very effective opponent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/saddam-hussein-was-an-odious-dictator-but-he-was-also-a-very/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Hegemony is as old as mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/hegemony-is-as-old-as-mankind/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Democrats should insist that a pluralistic democracy such as ours rely on bipartisanship in formulating a foreign policy based on moderation and the nuances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/democrats-should-insist-that-a-pluralistic-democracy-such-as-ours/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [I think the sheer attrition of American global domination will create circumstances in which the Chinese will be tempted to reach out for more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/i-think-the-sheer-attrition-of-american-global-domination-will-create/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/zbigniew-brzezinski/#itemlist", "name": "13 Ifs Quotes By Zbigniew Brzezinski", "numberOfItems": 13, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Eastern Europeans invested too many of their hopes in the notion that somehow or other the missile shield, even if directed at Iran, would reinforce their security links with the U.S. vis-à-vis Russia.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zbigniew Brzezinski" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-eastern-europeans-invested-too-many-of-their-hopes-in-the-notion/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/102/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_cybersecurity_the-eastern-europeans-invested-too-many_2295501.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/102/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_cybersecurity_the-eastern-europeans-invested-too-many_2295501.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/102/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_cybersecurity_the-eastern-europeans-invested-too-many_2295501.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Eastern Europeans invested too many of their hopes in the notion that somehow or other the missile…” — Zbigniew Brzezinski", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think if NATO haven't expanded, we would have a no-man's zone between the E.U. and NATO and Russia, and that would be very dangerous.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zbigniew Brzezinski" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/i-think-if-nato-haven-t-expanded-we-would-have-a-no-man-s-zone/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb9/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_dangerous_i-think-if-nato-haven-t-expanded-we-woul_1054967.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb9/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_dangerous_i-think-if-nato-haven-t-expanded-we-woul_1054967.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb9/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_dangerous_i-think-if-nato-haven-t-expanded-we-woul_1054967.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think if NATO haven't expanded, we would have a no-man's zone between the E.U. and NATO and Russia, and…” — Zbigniew Brzezinski", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the US has the right to have its own national security policy. I think most Americans would agree with that. And therefore clarity on this issue is important and especially if we commit ourselves, explicitly and bindingly, to Israel's security.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zbigniew Brzezinski" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/i-think-the-us-has-the-right-to-have-its-own-national-security-policy/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_agree_i-think-the-us-has-the-right-to-have-its_2107800.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_agree_i-think-the-us-has-the-right-to-have-its_2107800.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d34/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_agree_i-think-the-us-has-the-right-to-have-its_2107800.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think the US has the right to have its own national security policy. I think most Americans would agree…” — Zbigniew Brzezinski", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Iraq may have been a preview of that, but it's still redeemable if we get out fast. In a war with Iran, we'll get dragged down for 20 or 30 years. The world will condemn us. We will lose our position in the world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zbigniew Brzezinski" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/iraq-may-have-been-a-preview-of-that-but-it-s-still-redeemable-if-we/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_has-beens_iraq-may-have-been-a-preview-of-that-but_315489.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_has-beens_iraq-may-have-been-a-preview-of-that-but_315489.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_has-beens_iraq-may-have-been-a-preview-of-that-but_315489.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Iraq may have been a preview of that, but it's still redeemable if we get out fast. In a war with Iran…” — Zbigniew Brzezinski", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "However, if Moscow regains control over Ukraine, with its 52 million people and major resources as well as access to the Black Sea, Russia automatically again regains the wherewithal to become a powerful imperial state, spanning Europe and Asia.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zbigniew Brzezinski" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/however-if-moscow-regains-control-over-ukraine-with-its-52-million/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_access_however-if-moscow-regains-control-over-u_868736.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_access_however-if-moscow-regains-control-over-u_868736.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_access_however-if-moscow-regains-control-over-u_868736.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“However, if Moscow regains control over Ukraine, with its 52 million people and major resources as well as…” — Zbigniew Brzezinski", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The kind of problem that America faces in Iraq is a little bit the kind of problem that Israel faced in dealing with Hezbollah. If the conflict, the theater of conflict enlarges, it's going to become more and more absorbing and more and more costly.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zbigniew Brzezinski" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-kind-of-problem-that-america-faces-in-iraq-is-a-little-bit-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_absorbing_the-kind-of-problem-that-america-faces-i_1878477.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_absorbing_the-kind-of-problem-that-america-faces-i_1878477.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_absorbing_the-kind-of-problem-that-america-faces-i_1878477.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The kind of problem that America faces in Iraq is a little bit the kind of problem that Israel faced in…” — Zbigniew Brzezinski", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are major disappointments with the outcomes of Solidarity: corruption, and major pockets of economic backwardness and even poverty. By and large, though, if there were a choice between the life Poles led in the 1970s and 1980s and now, nobody but a lunatic would say they wanted to have back what they had before.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zbigniew Brzezinski" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/there-are-major-disappointments-with-the-outcomes-of-solidarity/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cb/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_choices_there-are-major-disappointments-with-the_778819.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cb/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_choices_there-are-major-disappointments-with-the_778819.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cb/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_choices_there-are-major-disappointments-with-the_778819.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are major disappointments with the outcomes of Solidarity: corruption, and major pockets of economic…” — Zbigniew Brzezinski", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the longer run, I happen to think that Russia really has no choice but to become gradually more associated with the Euro-Atlantic community. Because if it isn't, then it's going to find itself essentially facing China all by itself, facing the Euro-Atlantic community all by itself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zbigniew Brzezinski" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/in-the-longer-run-i-happen-to-think-that-russia-really-has-no-choice/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_china_in-the-longer-run-i-happen-to-think-that_113319.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_china_in-the-longer-run-i-happen-to-think-that_113319.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_china_in-the-longer-run-i-happen-to-think-that_113319.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In the longer run, I happen to think that Russia really has no choice but to become gradually more…” — Zbigniew Brzezinski", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The notion that somehow or another they'll (Iran) put it in a picnic basket and hand it to some terrorist group is merely an argument that may be convincing to some people who don't know anything about nuclear weapons. I don't find that argument very credible, I'm not sure that people who make it even believe in it. But it's a good argument to make if you have no other argument to make. The fact of the matter is, Iran has been around for 3000 years, and that is not a symptom of a suicidal instinct.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zbigniew Brzezinski" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-notion-that-somehow-or-another-they-ll-iran-put-it-in-a-picnic/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20f/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_argument_the-notion-that-somehow-or-another-they_3193785.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20f/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_argument_the-notion-that-somehow-or-another-they_3193785.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20f/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_argument_the-notion-that-somehow-or-another-they_3193785.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The notion that somehow or another they'll (Iran) put it in a picnic basket and hand it to some terrorist…” — Zbigniew Brzezinski", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think there is an implicit obligation for the United States to follow like a stupid mule whatever the Israelis do. If they decide to start a war, simply on the assumption that we will be automatically drawn into it, I think it is the obligation of friendship to say \"you're not going to be making national decisions for us\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zbigniew Brzezinski" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/i-don-t-think-there-is-an-implicit-obligation-for-the-united-states/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_assumption_i-don-t-think-there-is-an-implicit-oblig_1641411.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_assumption_i-don-t-think-there-is-an-implicit-oblig_1641411.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_assumption_i-don-t-think-there-is-an-implicit-oblig_1641411.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think there is an implicit obligation for the United States to follow like a stupid mule whatever…” — Zbigniew Brzezinski", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 11, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The political awakening that is happening worldwide is a major challenge for America, because it means that the world is much more restless. It's stirring. It has aspirations which are not easily satisfied. And if America is to lead, it has to relate itself somehow to these new, lively, intense political aspirations, which make our age so different from even the recent past.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zbigniew Brzezinski" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-political-awakening-that-is-happening-worldwide-is-a-major/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_age_the-political-awakening-that-is-happenin_2771656.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_age_the-political-awakening-that-is-happenin_2771656.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_age_the-political-awakening-that-is-happenin_2771656.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The political awakening that is happening worldwide is a major challenge for America, because it means that…” — Zbigniew Brzezinski", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 12, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "America is the only superpower. But our leadership is being tested in the Middle East, and some of the things that we have done in the Middle East are contributing to a potential explosion region-wide. And if that explosion gets out of hand, we may end up being bogged down for many years to come in a conflict that will be profoundly damaging to our capacity to exercise our power, to address the problems implicit in this global awakening, and we may face a world in which much of the world turns away from us, seeks its own equilibrium, but probably slides into a growing chaos.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zbigniew Brzezinski" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/america-is-the-only-superpower-but-our-leadership-is-being-tested-in/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_addresses_america-is-the-only-superpower-but-our-l_1228944.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_addresses_america-is-the-only-superpower-but-our-l_1228944.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b22/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_addresses_america-is-the-only-superpower-but-our-l_1228944.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“America is the only superpower. But our leadership is being tested in the Middle East, and some of the…” — Zbigniew Brzezinski", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 13, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Once the Eastern Bloc collapsed, what I call 'historical spontaneity' prevailed and the countries that were subject to Soviet control naturally gravitated to the West. That's where they sought their security; I don't think there was a way to avoid that. If we tried to exclude them, we would have today not one Europe, we would have three Europes: one in the West, one in the middle and one in the East, and the middle would be insecure and a tempting target. The insecurity felt [today] by Eastern Europe would be replicated on a much larger and more consequential scale.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zbigniew Brzezinski" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/once-the-eastern-bloc-collapsed-what-i-call-historical-spontaneity/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae2/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_country_once-the-eastern-bloc-collapsed-what-i-c_3224406.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae2/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_country_once-the-eastern-bloc-collapsed-what-i-c_3224406.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae2/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_country_once-the-eastern-bloc-collapsed-what-i-c_3224406.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Once the Eastern Bloc collapsed, what I call 'historical spontaneity' prevailed and the countries that were…” — Zbigniew Brzezinski", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/zbigniew-brzezinski/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/zbigniew-brzezinski/", "name": "Ifs Quotes by Zbigniew Brzezinski", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/zbigniew-brzezinski/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/102/zbigniew-brzezinski-1312_cybersecurity_the-eastern-europeans-invested-too-many_2295501.jpg" }, "description": "13 Ifs quotes by Zbigniew Brzezinski. Plus more from Zbigniew Brzezinski and more Ifs sayings from other authors.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/zbigniew-brzezinski/#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/zbigniew-brzezinski/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Topics", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Ifs", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "Zbigniew Brzezinski", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/zbigniew-brzezinski/" } ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```