The effect of that is to poison the flow of information to the President himself and to create a situation where a President can be almost, to use a metaphor, psychotically divorced from the realities in which he is acting.
Daniel EllsbergRead
Obama is making a choice now that will lead to the deaths of many thousands of civilians in Afghanistan by American hands. By ordinary standards of presidents, he is a decent man. But those standards aren't good enough. He's in a position either to kill or not to kill, and he's made the decision to kill.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques President Obama's decision-making in wartime, highlighting the moral weight of his choices.
In this quote, Daniel Ellsberg expresses a deep moral concern regarding President Obama's choices in military actions that could lead to civilian casualties in Afghanistan. While acknowledging Obama's decency by conventional standards, Ellsberg argues that such standards are insufficient for someone in a position of power over life and death, emphasizing the ethical responsibility leaders hold in their decisions regarding war.
Themes
ObamaDecisionCivilian CasualtiesWarEthicsLeadership
In practice
Example use cases
During a political debate on military ethics.
More from Daniel Ellsberg
All quotes →There should be at least one leak like the Pentagon Papers every year.
Daniel EllsbergRead
I felt that as an American citizen, as a responsible citizen, I could no longer cooperate in concealing this information from the American public. I did this clearly at my own jeopardy and I am prepared to answer to all the consequences of this decision.
Daniel EllsbergRead
I see Edward Snowden as someone who has chosen, at best, exile from the country he loves-with a serious risk of his assassination by agents of his government or life in prison (in solitary confinement)-to awaken us to the danger of our loss of democracy to a total-surveilla nce state
Daniel EllsbergRead
EVERY attack now made on WikiLeaks and Julian Assange was made against me and the release of the Pentagon Papers at the time.
Daniel EllsbergRead
If there's another 9/11 or a major war in the Middle-East involving a U.S. attack on Iran, I have no doubt that there will be, the day after or within days an equivalent of a Reichstag fire decree that will involve massive detentions in this country.
Daniel EllsbergRead
Similar quotes
Very many and very meritorious were the worthy patriots who assisted in bringing back our government to its republican tack. To preserve it in that, will require unremitting vigilance.
Thomas JeffersonRead
A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of the user.
Theodore RooseveltRead
Press Freedom will never be under threat in South Africa for as long as the ANC is the majority party
Nelson MandelaRead
After installing friendly leaders in Iran and Guatemala, the United States lost interest in promoting democracy in either country.
Stephen KinzerRead
When counterterrorist policies are used to suppress peaceful protests and legitimate opposition movements, shut down debate, target human rights defenders, or stigmatize minorities, they fail, and we all lose. Indeed, such responses may cause further resentment and instability and contribute to radicalization.
Antonio GuterresRead
If economic progress is not translated into better quality of life and respect for citizens' rights, we will witness more Tahrir Squares in Africa.
Mo IbrahimRead