Bosnia is under my skin. It's the place you cannot leave behind. I was obsessed by the nightmare of it all; there was this sense of guilt, and an anger that has become something much deeper over these last years. Paddy Ashdown More Quotes by Paddy Ashdown More Quotes From Paddy Ashdown One of the great barriers to peace in the Middle East is that both sides, both Israel and the Palestinians, do not understand that they share a collective destiny. Paddy Ashdown middle-east destiny israel The multinational corporations now developing budgets often bigger than medium-sized countries — these live in a global space which is largely unregulated, not subject to the rule of law, and in which people may act free of constraint. Paddy Ashdown motivation inspiration country Truth and reconciliation' are always combined, but I would split them: I don't think Bosnia is ready for reconciliation, but I do think it is ready for truth. Paddy Ashdown bosnia ready thinking It's not my job to be popular. I'm goal-driven; my job is to get results. Paddy Ashdown goal song jobs The generous way of putting it is that we were not ready for this. The less generous way is to say: How was it possible to return to the politics of appeasement of the 1930s? Paddy Ashdown comeback return way We have invented a new human right here - the right to return home after a war. Paddy Ashdown return home war History teaches us these lessons for the interveners: leave your prejudices at home, keep your ambitions low, have enough resources to do the job, do not lose the golden hour, make security your first priority, involve the neighbours. Paddy Ashdown ambition home jobs Maybe it's legitimate criticism, though it can be hurtful. Maybe I haven't paid sufficient attention to the people with whom I would have a natural affinity as a liberal, and they feel let down by that. Paddy Ashdown hurtful criticism people I am here because I think it was a terrible sin of the west to allow those years of war. Paddy Ashdown i-am think sin war I was told there would be riots in the streets, but there were no riots. Paddy Ashdown riots would were streets I love this country, I love these people, though I can't say I love their politicians. People are always nicer than politicians, but here, you can mark that difference up a hundredfold. Paddy Ashdown you love country people We who came here saw what was happening. This was far more than a war in a faraway place. This was a moral imperative, a terrible vision of the future. Paddy Ashdown place future vision war It was a superb agreement to end a war, but a very bad agreement to make a state. From now on, we have to part company with Dayton and try to build a modern democratic state, for which I have tried to lay the foundations. Paddy Ashdown end bad try war It works both ways: there are victims of tragedy who come to me who have experienced grief of such magnitude that they cannot reconcile. Likewise, I cannot change the mentality of those who committed the crimes or the fools who followed them. Paddy Ashdown fools me grief change