"The cause of our difficulties in southeast Asia is not a deficiency of power but an excess of the wrong kind of power which results in a feeling of impotence when it fails to achieve its desired ends"
- J. William Fulbright
About this Quote
This quote by J. William Fulbright speaks to the issue of power in Southeast Asia. He recommends that the cause of troubles in the area is not a lack of power, but rather an excess of the wrong kind of power. This incorrect sort of power is ineffective and results in a feeling of vulnerability when it stops working to achieve its wanted objectives. Fulbright is indicating that the power wielded in Southeast Asia is not the right kind of power to cause favorable modification. He is recommending that a different kind of power, one that is more effective and helpful, is required in order to bring about the desired outcomes. This quote speaks to the importance of using the ideal kind of power in order to achieve positive results.