“The United States [has] been able to broker [peace agreements] at other times. Obviously we did not do anything in Rwanda, but we played a big part with NATO in ending the Bosnian situation. We used to be able to do that. But in our meetings with all of the heads of government they said to us, “Your policies in Iraq have made it impossible for you now to threaten anything.” We have no moral high ground. We have to look to anyone but ourselves to be able to broker some sort of a peace treaty. That is a very frustrating place to be.

“I was taught [when growing up] to look at the United States not from the inside out but from the outside in. The signs you see [today] are very disheartening. It is probably the worst time ever for us internationally. When you go to Europe, for the most part, they just hate us. Not individually, but they think we are just like these big bullies — and quite honestly, we have acted like that. That has been the most unusual twist in the last few years, having to defend being an American.” — George Clooney speaking to Newsweek‘s Ginanne Brownell in the 2.12.07 issue.