--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What's interesting about the foreign…" description: "\"What's interesting about the foreign policy establishment critique is, you know, I think the Blob and I have more in common in some ways than people mi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f6/ben-rhodes-7180_foreign-policy_what-s-interesting-about-the-foreign-pol_2712575.jpg" --- # What's interesting about the foreign policy establishment… ![“What's interesting about the foreign policy establishment critique is, you know, I think the Blob and I have more in common in some ways than people might think, but also, what I was saying can be misread.” quote by Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f6/ben-rhodes-7180_foreign-policy_what-s-interesting-about-the-foreign-pol_2712575.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f6/ben-rhodes-7180_foreign-policy_what-s-interesting-about-the-foreign-pol_2712575.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f6/ben-rhodes-7180_foreign-policy_what-s-interesting-about-the-foreign-pol_2712575.jpg) > “What's interesting about the foreign policy establishment critique is, you know, I think the Blob and I have more in common in some ways than people might think, but also, what I was saying can be misread.” [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critiquing foreign policy reveals unexpected commonalities, but statements can be misinterpreted. **In simple terms:** Policy critique shows shared traits, yet can be read wrong. Key Takeaway Recognize nuance and guard against misreading. Themes politics communication misinterpretation Mood analytical critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - debate - media analysis - strategic messaging Key Concepts foreign policy public discourse Questions to Reflect On - How can you clarify intent? - What biases affect perception? A Different Perspective Complex issues may be oversimplified. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blob Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blob-common-2820015/) [Establishment Critique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/establishment-critique-2820013/) [Foreign policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreign-policy/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Interesting Foreign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting-foreign-2820016/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Think Blob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-blob-2820014/) ## Related quotes > [President Obama has made the Asia Pacific region a focus of his foreign policy, and Vietnam - a large, growing economy in the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/president-obama-has-made-the-asia-pacific-region-a-focus-of-his/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [“Hamilton has often been extolled as the exponent of a rational foreign policy based on cool calculations of national self-interest. But his April 14…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/hamilton-has-often-been-extolled-as-the-exponent-of-a-rational/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [The Hillary Clinton foreign policy has cost America thousands of lives and trillions and trillions of dollars, and unleashed ISIS across the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-hillary-clinton-foreign-policy-has-cost-america-thousands-of/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I don't just denounce suicide bombers. I denounce those governments which use indiscriminate slaughter to advance their foreign policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/i-don-t-just-denounce-suicide-bombers-i-denounce-those-governments/) [Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/) > [Trump's biggest success in his first term has been his foreign policy agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-hemingway/trump-s-biggest-success-in-his-first-term-has-been-his-foreign-policy/) [Mollie Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-hemingway/) > [From a German point of view, German-American and European-American relations are a pillar of our foreign policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/from-a-german-point-of-view-german-american-and-european-american/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [ \[A\]n Obama presidency would be an amusing approximation of the Carter administration, complete with vaporous moralizing and foreign policy bungling. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-tyrrell/a-n-obama-presidency-would-be-an-amusing-approximation-of-the-carter/) [Emmett Tyrrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-tyrrell/) > [We have come a long way in terms of foreign policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/we-have-come-a-long-way-in-terms-of-foreign-policy/) [Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) > [The reality is that our military presence on foreign soil is as offensive to the people that live there as armed Chinese troops would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/the-reality-is-that-our-military-presence-on-foreign-soil-is-as/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [The next president needs to know foreign policy and not learn it on the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-brownback/the-next-president-needs-to-know-foreign-policy-and-not-learn-it-on/) [Sam Brownback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-brownback/) > [21st-century foreign policy is going to be built on countries that can tackle transnational challenges together. Climate change and public health are the top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/21st-century-foreign-policy-is-going-to-be-built-on-countries-that/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [The people and the warmakers are two distinct groups. We must never say 'we' when discussing the US government's foreign policy. For one thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/llewellyn-rockwell/the-people-and-the-warmakers-are-two-distinct-groups-we-must-never/) [Llewellyn Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/llewellyn-rockwell/) > [ \[Putin\] is a bully. And bullies only understand when we punch them in the nose, but we need to do that economically. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/putin-is-a-bully-and-bullies-only-understand-when-we-punch-them-in/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Britain should take pride in a foreign policy that reflects her values and responsibilities - but it must be grounded in the tangible interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-raab/britain-should-take-pride-in-a-foreign-policy-that-reflects-her/) [Dominic Raab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-raab/) ## More by Ben Rhodes > [As people who know me know, probably to a fault, I am usually not without thoughts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/as-people-who-know-me-know-probably-to-a-fault-i-am-usually-not/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [Following one of the most violent conflicts in human history, the United States and Japan built a deep and abiding friendship - an alliance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/following-one-of-the-most-violent-conflicts-in-human-history-the/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [Our Cuba policy was a major obstacle to getting things done in the hemisphere and a source of tension around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/our-cuba-policy-was-a-major-obstacle-to-getting-things-done-in-the/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [Americans will forever be proud of the brave men and women of our armed forces who served in World War II, and we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/americans-will-forever-be-proud-of-the-brave-men-and-women-of-our/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [I found people I really wanted to work for; I made myself available to do whatever I could with the skills I had; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/i-found-people-i-really-wanted-to-work-for-i-made-myself-available-to/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [Irrespective of our foreign policies, for decades, other nations and peoples could see, in the United States, a strong democracy that could maintain social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/irrespective-of-our-foreign-policies-for-decades-other-nations-and/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > ['Make America great again,' is not that different from Putin's nostalgia for the Soviet Union or tsarist Russia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/make-america-great-again-is-not-that-different-from-putin-s-nostalgia/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [The Benghazi attack was one of the more confusing, chaotic days that we had at work because you had these multiple violent protests taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/the-benghazi-attack-was-one-of-the-more-confusing-chaotic-days-that/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [Our basic assessment was that if America keeps going down these rabbit holes in the Middle East, we're just going to put ourselves out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/our-basic-assessment-was-that-if-america-keeps-going-down-these/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [To be sure, the United States will be eternally proud of our civilian leaders and the men and women of our armed forces who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/to-be-sure-the-united-states-will-be-eternally-proud-of-our-civilian/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [Since taking office, President Obama has pursued a policy that focused more American resources and engagement in the Asia-Pacific, a region that will increasingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/since-taking-office-president-obama-has-pursued-a-policy-that-focused/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [The fact that there were discreet channels of communication established with Iran in 2012 is something that we confirmed publicly. However, we did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/the-fact-that-there-were-discreet-channels-of-communication/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [Downturns in migration almost always prove temporary, as people adjust to changes in American enforcement. What doesn't change is the basic human impulse to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/downturns-in-migration-almost-always-prove-temporary-as-people-adjust/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [When I think of the things that Trump has done, ironically, everything is sort of - we care so much about Cuba and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/when-i-think-of-the-things-that-trump-has-done-ironically-everything/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [I think one of the critiques of me is that I thought I knew it all. But I was learning from the enormous resources…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/i-think-one-of-the-critiques-of-me-is-that-i-thought-i-knew-it-all/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) [Explore all 94 Ben Rhodes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) ## More Foreign policy quotes > [Britain should take pride in a foreign policy that reflects her values and responsibilities - but it must be grounded in the tangible interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-raab/britain-should-take-pride-in-a-foreign-policy-that-reflects-her/) [Dominic Raab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-raab/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ \[Putin\] is a bully. And bullies only understand when we punch them in the nose, but we need to do that economically. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/putin-is-a-bully-and-bullies-only-understand-when-we-punch-them-in/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [The people and the warmakers are two distinct groups. We must never say 'we' when discussing the US government's foreign policy. For one thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/llewellyn-rockwell/the-people-and-the-warmakers-are-two-distinct-groups-we-must-never/) [Llewellyn Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/llewellyn-rockwell/) > [21st-century foreign policy is going to be built on countries that can tackle transnational challenges together. Climate change and public health are the top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/21st-century-foreign-policy-is-going-to-be-built-on-countries-that/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [The next president needs to know foreign policy and not learn it on the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-brownback/the-next-president-needs-to-know-foreign-policy-and-not-learn-it-on/) [Sam Brownback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-brownback/) > [The reality is that our military presence on foreign soil is as offensive to the people that live there as armed Chinese troops would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/the-reality-is-that-our-military-presence-on-foreign-soil-is-as/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [We have come a long way in terms of foreign policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-raffarin/we-have-come-a-long-way-in-terms-of-foreign-policy/) [Jean-Pierre Raffarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-raffarin/) > [ \[A\]n Obama presidency would be an amusing approximation of the Carter administration, complete with vaporous moralizing and foreign policy bungling. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-tyrrell/a-n-obama-presidency-would-be-an-amusing-approximation-of-the-carter/) [Emmett Tyrrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-tyrrell/) > [From a German point of view, German-American and European-American relations are a pillar of our foreign policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/from-a-german-point-of-view-german-american-and-european-american/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [Trump's biggest success in his first term has been his foreign policy agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-hemingway/trump-s-biggest-success-in-his-first-term-has-been-his-foreign-policy/) [Mollie Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-hemingway/) > [I don't just denounce suicide bombers. I denounce those governments which use indiscriminate slaughter to advance their foreign policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/i-don-t-just-denounce-suicide-bombers-i-denounce-those-governments/) [Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/) > [The Hillary Clinton foreign policy has cost America thousands of lives and trillions and trillions of dollars, and unleashed ISIS across the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-hillary-clinton-foreign-policy-has-cost-america-thousands-of/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“Hamilton has often been extolled as the exponent of a rational foreign policy based on cool calculations of national self-interest. But his April 14…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/hamilton-has-often-been-extolled-as-the-exponent-of-a-rational/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [•“I don’t have the foggiest idea about what I think about international, foreign policy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-don-t-have-the-foggiest-idea-about-what-i-think-about-international/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) [Browse all 1,055 Foreign policy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreign-policy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What's interesting about the foreign policy establishment critique is, you know, I think the Blob and I have more in common in some ways than people might think, but also, what I was saying can be misread.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Rhodes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/what-s-interesting-about-the-foreign-policy-establishment-critique-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Foreign policy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/what-s-interesting-about-the-foreign-policy-establishment-critique-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f6/ben-rhodes-7180_foreign-policy_what-s-interesting-about-the-foreign-pol_2712575.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f6/ben-rhodes-7180_foreign-policy_what-s-interesting-about-the-foreign-pol_2712575.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f6/ben-rhodes-7180_foreign-policy_what-s-interesting-about-the-foreign-pol_2712575.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What's interesting about the foreign policy establishment critique is, you know, I think the Blob and I have…” — Ben Rhodes", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "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": "Ben Rhodes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What's interesting about the foreign policy...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/what-s-interesting-about-the-foreign-policy-establishment-critique-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/what-s-interesting-about-the-foreign-policy-establishment-critique-is/#breadcrumb" }, { "@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 } } ] } ```