"He has not yet become an elder statesman, though his foreign policy credentials are considerable, but he is certainly our ancient mariner, forever tugging at our sleeve to let him tell his tale of what really happened"

This quote by Ronald Steel is referring to an individual who has considerable experience in foreign policy, but has not yet attained the status of a senior statesman. Steel is comparing this person to an ancient mariner, a figure from a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who is forever trying to inform his story of what really occurred. Steel is recommending that this individual is continuously trying to inform their story of what truly took place in their foreign policy experience, but they have actually not yet attained the status of an elder statesman. This quote is a tip that although somebody might not have actually accomplished the highest status, they still have valuable experiences and stories to tell.