45 Quotes by Michael Shifter

It could have been worse if Bush had been embarrassed, or humiliated.

I think they're not as quick to dismiss his bluster as they used to be.

Palacio thought he could pursue a different course, have a greater emphasis on a social agenda. But I think he's encountered real obstacles, not just within Ecuador but in the international community. I think he's wanted to have it both ways, but that's proven to be extremely difficult.

Relations are probably at their lowest point. Things have gotten very bad. The two governments are on a collision course.

I think he's saying that the U.S. doesn't have to control everything ? that the U.S. is able to sort of yield, and when it does, things can go well,

The question is, when it comes time to confront those policy decisions, whether that could create more violence or unrest.

The fact that he is going is a credit to him, because there was a lot of speculation he wouldn't,

Those words must have been welcome to anxious business groups, who feared a fiercely confrontational tone. He hit some conciliatory notes.

There has been a sense that Latin America can take care of itself, but Washington needs to start repairing the tattered relations.