Condoleezza Rice quotes

Condoleezza Rice, an eminent American diplomat and political scientist, has made significant contributions to international relations. Born in 1954, Rice served as the 66th United States Secretary of State under President George W. Bush from 2005 to 2009. With her exceptional diplomatic skills, she played a pivotal role in shaping US foreign policy during a critical period. Rice's expertise in Soviet and Eastern European affairs propelled her to numerous academic achievements, including being Stanford University's Provost from 1993 to 1999. This accomplished scholar's remarkable journey inspires many. Explore more about Condoleezza Rice and her impactful role in global politics.

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We need a common enemy to unite us.

- Condoleezza Rice

It is high time that the international community tell Saddam Hussein and his regime that this is not an issue of negotiation with the U.N. about obligations that they undertook in 1991.

- Condoleezza Rice

The people of the Middle East share the desire for freedom. We have an opportunity - and an obligation - to help them turn this desire into reality.

- Condoleezza Rice

Our policies toward Iraq simply are to protect the region and to protect Iraq's people and neighbors.

- Condoleezza Rice

I don't think anybody can take the word of Saddam Hussein and his regime, and certainly an American president and allies who are obligated to worry about the safety and security of our countries, cannot take the word of this dictator, who lies, pathologically lies.

- Condoleezza Rice

We're in a new world. We're in a world in which the possibility of terrorism, married up with technology, could make us very, very sorry that we didn't act.

- Condoleezza Rice

Now, al Qaeda's on the run. Afghanistan is no longer a base of operations. The Afghan government is a friendly government that is trying to bring democracy to its people.

- Condoleezza Rice

But the truth of the matter is, we're an open society, we want to remain an open society, and there will continue to be vulnerability. That's why we have to meet the threats when they are not yet taking place on our territory and on our soil.

- Condoleezza Rice

Any time you have a situation in which you are calling for more time rather than calling for Iraq to immediately comply, it plays into the hands of Saddam Hussein.

- Condoleezza Rice

We've been a country that's been fortunate to be protected by two oceans, to not have serious attacks on our territory for most of our history. And we were unfortunately reminded in a very devastating way of our vulnerability.

- Condoleezza Rice

There was no silver bullet that could have prevented the 11 September attacks. There was nothing demonstrating or showing that something was coming in the United States. If there had been something, we would have acted on it.

- Condoleezza Rice

We needed to go back on the offense and offer clear leadership on Iraq.

- Condoleezza Rice

We know that there are unaccounted-for Scud and other ballistic missiles in Iraq. And part of the problem is that, since 1998, there has been no way to even get minimal information about those programs except through intelligence means.

- Condoleezza Rice

The problem here is that there will always be some uncertainty about how quickly Saddam can acquire nuclear weapons. But we don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud.

- Condoleezza Rice

Success is not assured, but America is resolute: this is the best chance for peace we are likely to see for some years to come - and we are acting to help Israelis and Palestinians seize this chance.

- Condoleezza Rice

So I think, if September 11 taught us anything, it taught us that we're vulnerable, and vulnerable in ways that we didn't fully understand.

- Condoleezza Rice

Well, there's been plenty of ultimatums, and one thing that we better be very clear is that we can't continue to have the kind of defiance of the United Nations, the defiance of the international community that we've had.

- Condoleezza Rice

Does anybody think these people were just sitting around drinking tea?

- Condoleezza Rice

But I want to just caution, it is not incumbent on the United States to prove that Saddam Hussein is trying to acquire weapons of mass destruction. He's already demonstrated that he's trying to acquire weapons of mass destruction.

- Condoleezza Rice

We are at war, and our security as a nation depends on winning that war.

- Condoleezza Rice

We will continue to work together in our common fight against terror.

- Condoleezza Rice

Life is full of surprises and and serendipity. Being open to unexpected turns in the road is an important part of success. If you try to plan every step, you may miss those wonderful twists and turns. Just find your next adventure-do it well, enjoy it-and then, not now, think about what comes next.

- Condoleezza Rice