Castro has lived almost his entire life as a clandestine revolutionary. To such figures, truth is always malleable, always subservient to political goals. Stephen Kinzer Read Quote
Was Castro sincere when, during his guerrilla war, he swore that he was not a Communist? If so, when did he change, and why? Looking back, does he believe he might have chosen a better course? Stephen Kinzer Read Quote
Revolutionaries who come to power by force of arms usually have great crimes in their background. Leaders who survive campaigns by great powers to destroy them do not survive because they observe the niceties of law. Subversives who shape world events by covert action and violence work in shadows and detest the light of day. Stephen Kinzer Read Quote
Turkey and Brazil, though half a world apart geographically, have much in common. Both are large countries that spent long years under military dominance, but have broken with that history and made decisive steps towards full democracy. Stephen Kinzer Read Quote
The key to Turkey’s success has been its ability to reinvent itself as times change. Stephen Kinzer Read Quote
In his tub-thumping speech at the 2008 Republican National Convention, Romney sounded like the hedge-fund tycoon he is. Stephen Kinzer Read Quote
Romney is a classic case of re-invention. As governor of Massachusetts, he supported government-sponsored healthcare, was sympathetic to gay rights, and opposed harsh restrictions on abortion. After measuring the difference between the Massachusetts electorate and the national one to which he must now appeal, he has reversed those positions. Stephen Kinzer Read Quote
Canada, Australia and New Zealand have apologised for their treatment of native peoples. Stephen Kinzer Read Quote
Afghanistan’s borders are arbitrary, drawn to meet 19th-century political needs rather than to respect ethnic or religious patterns. Stephen Kinzer Read Quote
Many Afghan intellectuals in the United States believe that their country is best kept together. They are encouraged by the fact that no leading tribal or political figure there has called for secession. Stephen Kinzer Read Quote
