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That does not mean that we must forego just and fair criticism, or refrain from opposition to policies which are debatable or which do not command our approval.

Taking a principled and consistent stance over Iraq has attracted much criticism from our detractors and opponents.

Criticism in a time of war is essential to the maintenance of any kind of democratic government.

It is almost universally felt that when we call a country democratic we are praising it; consequently, the defenders of every kind of regime claim that it is a democracy, and fear that they might have to stop using the word if it were tied down to any one meaning.

I am not a rabid partisan.

I'm not a partisan.

In a way, I have to have a dictatorship. I can't be told that I'm wrong. That conflicts with what I was saying earlier about listening. It isn't to do with receiving criticism and responding to other views, it's who has that last decision.

In almost any country, probably in Russia in particular, it's fashionable to criticise people in power. If you come out in support of someone like me, you're going to be accused of trying to ingratiate yourself.

I'm not political and I don't judge.

One can criticize the Israeli government, but it is not fair to judge the people of Israel.