What we want to demonstrate with this visit is a significant upgrade in the relationship between the United States and Vietnam ... even as we have areas of difference. Ben Rhodes More Quotes by Ben Rhodes More Quotes From Ben Rhodes What he’s always said is that if there’s a threat against us, we will act, but when it comes to shaping events in cultures that are foreign to the United States we have to have some degree of realism. Ben Rhodes world Where civil society is welcomed, communities are more safe, more secure, and more prosperous. Ben Rhodes morewheresocietysafe All over the world, independent and strong civil society - NGOs, faith leaders, and other community advocates - help governments solve problems and better serve their people better by shining a light on the issues that matter most - like education standards, access to healthcare, the rule of law, and economic opportunity. Ben Rhodes lightfaitheducationpeople Active citizenship doesn't just mean running for office or going into politics; it means starting organisations that promote change or solve a problem, pursuing social good with economic success. Ben Rhodes goodpoliticschangesuccess In addition to deep divisions on issues such as trade, climate change, Middle East peace and nuclear weapons, Trump's attacks on leaders such as Trudeau and Merkel and disrespect for NATO and other institutions are prompting a reassessment by allied governments and publics. Ben Rhodes deepclimate-changechangepeace U.S. leadership has been rooted not just in our own belief in American exceptionalism but in the faith of others around the world. By so wantonly discarding that principle, the Trump Administration has done incredible harm to the families they have separated through the state-sponsored child abuse that has been carried out in our name. Ben Rhodes childleadershipfaithworld Laos is a deeply Buddhist country, and my visit included a traditional Tak Bat ceremony, in which you get up at sunrise and make offerings to Buddhist monks. Ben Rhodes getyousunrisecountry Increased remittances to Cuba from the United States has helped Cuban families. Ben Rhodes cubancubaunitedunited-states By heralding President Xi Jinping's accession to permanent leadership, soliciting Vladimir Putin's reentry into the Group of Seven, and declaring that Kim Jong Un is 'beloved by his people,' Trump legitimizes the very behavior that U.S. presidents opposed for decades. Ben Rhodes groupbehaviorleadershippeople If we're going to play a role in shaping a future that is more secure, more prosperous, and more connected, we need to make sure that young people have the tools they need to succeed. Ben Rhodes futuresucceedplaypeople The TPP will be good for the American economy, the Vietnamese economy, and the labor and environmental standards that make life better for our people. Ben Rhodes goodenvironmentallifepeople Havana is a source of great pride to the Cuban people. Ben Rhodes greathavanapridepeople President Obama has been on the world stage for 10 years, and people know what he believes. He doesn't single out individual countries and doesn't say, 'I believe in LGBT rights because I want to embarrass the political leadership in India.' Ben Rhodes leadershipbelievepeopleworld In the Arab Spring, that obviously came to a head in Syria. I found myself arguing for intervention, mainly just because I wanted things to get better, and I had this germ of liberal humanitarian interventionism. Ben Rhodes just-becausebettermyselfspring The fact of the matter is the West Wing never gets fully renovated because nobody wants to vacate it. And so you have basically patch-up jobs that are being done, but it's a tight and cramped environment. Ben Rhodes nobodyneveryoumatter We don't have to kind of be in cycles of conflict if we can find other ways to resolve these issues. We can do things that challenge the conventional thinking that, you know, 'AIPAC doesn't like this,' or 'the Israeli government doesn't like this,' or 'the Gulf countries don't like it.' It's the possibility of improved relations with adversaries. Ben Rhodes challengeyougovernmentthinking The complete lack of governance in huge swaths of the Middle East - that is the project of the American establishment. Ben Rhodes projectamericangovernancemiddle I profoundly do not believe that the United States could make things better in Syria by being there. And we have an evidentiary record of what happens when we're there - nearly a decade in Iraq. Ben Rhodes decadebetterthingsbelieve With the 5-to-4 decision upholding Trump's Muslim ban, arbitrary discrimination is now formal U.S. policy, celebrated by a president who campaigned on a 'total ban' of Muslims entering the United States. Ben Rhodes nowdiscriminationdecisionpresident Irrespective of our foreign policies, for decades, other nations and peoples could see, in the United States, a strong democracy that could maintain social cohesion, welcome immigrants of all backgrounds, and count on stable institutions. Ben Rhodes seewelcomedemocracystrong
