If there's ever an example that military power alone cannot be successful in Afghanistan, I think it was the Soviet experience.
Robert M. GatesRead
In my opinion, any future defense secretary who advises the president to again send a big American land army into Asia or into the Middle East or Africa should 'have his head examined,' as General MacArthur so delicately put it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of strategic decision-making in military affairs.
Robert M. Gates expresses a strong opinion against the idea of sending large American military forces into foreign territories, particularly in Asia, the Middle East, or Africa. He underscores the necessity for future military leaders to carefully consider the implications of such actions, suggesting that any advisor who would recommend this should be critically evaluated, referencing General MacArthur's famous admonition.
Themes
MilitaryStrategyLeadershipAdviceDecision-Making
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in discussions about military intervention policies during political speeches.
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I've been very sensitive for a long time to the repeated pattern, during economic hard times or after a war, of the United States' essentially unilaterally disarming.
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If Iraq and Afghanistan have taught us anything in recent history, it is the unpredictability of war and that these things are easier to get into than to get out of, and, frankly, the facile way in which too many people talk about, 'Well, let's just go attack them.'
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There is no international problem that can be addressed or solved without the engagement and leadership of the United States and everybody in the world knows that, its just fact of life. So sometimes I think we could conduct ourselves with a little more humility.
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