When the commander-in-chief sends Americans to fight and die, it should be only to protect our vital national interests, not for his own personal, political gain. Kathleen Troia McFarland More Quotes by Kathleen Troia McFarland More Quotes From Kathleen Troia McFarland It is important not to let emotions get in the way of cold, hard, calculated military planning. Emotions may win arguments, but they don't win wars. Kathleen Troia McFarland winning may war Americans are slow to anger, but once they do get angry, they are impossible to stop. Kathleen Troia McFarland angry impossible Egypt is the oldest, largest and most important Arab country in the region. What happens there affects them all. Kathleen Troia McFarland egypt important country We in the West think of peace as society's default position. War is a temporary state of affairs that happens when peace fails. For us, war is something that has a beginning, a middle, and an end. When it is over, win or lose, the warring factions lay down their arms and resume their normal lives. Kathleen Troia McFarland win-or-lose society war peace Americans don't like to stand by while innocent people are killed and watch a human disaster unfold. It goes against our very fiber. We feel compelled to do something. Kathleen Troia McFarland stand feel innocent people Russia does not have a modern economy: it's a petro-power. The only thing it sells that the world wants to buy is oil and natural gas. When was the last time anyone bought a Russian computer? A Russian car? A Russian cell phone? Russia is so dependent on high energy prices that if oil falls below $100 a barrel, the Kremlin can't meet payroll. Kathleen Troia McFarland cell-phone car time world The problem with people who live in a world of speeches and books and theories is they don't know how to fix things in the real world when they go wrong. They feign ignorance, blame others, and make another eloquent speech. Kathleen Troia McFarland blame ignorance people world The president doesn't order the military to seize political opponents. He doesn't order his intelligence community to lie about national security for political purposes. He uses the military or intelligence communities to protect the United States and our citizens, not to help him win elections. Kathleen Troia McFarland lie win intelligence community In politics, a picture is worth a thousand words. Kathleen Troia McFarland worth picture words politics The majority of people think their children's lives will not be as good as theirs. Nearly half of all Americans are no longer proud of their country. Politicians have become a despised breed. Kathleen Troia McFarland good proud children people It's the libertarians who want to reclaim decision-making for themselves. It's the small government folks who see government as a great Leviathan gobbling up more and more of their treasure and freedoms. Kathleen Troia McFarland small great treasure government Krispy Kreme claims the 'batter is the best part.' Same with an Obama speech. It's all about what's on the outside, not what's inside. Kathleen Troia McFarland inside outside best speech While President Putin is busy redrawing the map of Europe, President Obama is busy filling out his brackets. Kathleen Troia McFarland map president busy europe Don't worry, America. We survived Jimmy Carter, and we will survive Barack Obama. Only one questions remains... who is the next Ronald Reagan? Kathleen Troia McFarland survive will worry america We realize too late that President Bush shouldn't have taken us into Iraq, and President Obama shouldn't have taken us out. Kathleen Troia McFarland us realize late too-late Whatever the final outcome in Iraq, our men and women in uniform should stand tall with pride for a job well done. It was our political leaders - of both parties and both presidencies - who failed us. Kathleen Troia McFarland job women pride men There is a growing sense among Americans outside the Beltway that while President Obama may be a good talker, he is a lousy manager. Kathleen Troia McFarland manager outside good president In the Reagan administration, a great speech was just the first step in a long process. In the Obama administration, it's the only step. Kathleen Troia McFarland first-step step great long In the real world, words don't automatically translate into deeds. Kathleen Troia McFarland words deeds real world Every president, as he nears the end of his final term in office, thinks about his place in history. Kathleen Troia McFarland end place office history