Often, foreign policy - which, by definition, is largely out of American control - is simply a matter of not doing the wrong thing, the unwise thing. George Packer americancontroldefinition Change image and share on social
Lawyers, judges, doctors, shrinks, accountants, investigators and, not least, journalists could not do the most basic tasks without a veil of secrecy. Why shouldn't the same be true of those professionals who happen to be government officials? George Packer accountantbasicdoctor share on social
I've read a lot of war writing, even World War I writing, the British war poetry of Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon, Robert Graves's memoir 'Goodbye to All That,' and a civilian memoir, 'Testament of Youth,' by Vera Brittain. George Packer britishbrittaincivilian share on social
Foreign policy exactly suits Obama's strong points as a leader, which turn out not to be giving the masses a clear sense of direction and hope, but instead exercising good judgment on a case-by-case basis while thinking many steps ahead of the present moment. George Packer aheadbasiscase share on social
No-one can say when the unwinding began, when the coil that held America together in its secure and sometime shifting grip first gave way. George Packer americabegincoil Change image and share on social
Amazon's identity and goals are never clear and always fluid, which makes the company destabilizing and intimidating. George Packer amazonclearcompany Change image and share on social
White male privilege remains alive in America, but the phrase would seem odd, if not infuriating, to a sixty-year-old man working as a Walmart greeter in southern Ohio. George Packer aliveamericagreeter Change image and share on social
It's essential for the U.S. and Europe to prevent Putin from going farther and reversing the hard-won independence of former Soviet republics. George Packer essentialeuropefar Change image and share on social
Oprah is just this goddess presiding over so much of American life, and her story is really interesting - the way she made herself, and the ruthlessness it took, and also the fantasizing that it took. George Packer americanfantasizegoddess Change image and share on social
I actually think that self-interest is overrated as an all-purpose guide to political motive. It leaves out something at least as powerful and immovable - individual psychology. George Packer guideimmovableindividual Change image and share on social
