Today's headlines and history's judgment are rarely the same.
Condoleezza RiceRead
The problem here is that there will always be some uncertainty about how quickly Saddam can acquire nuclear weapons. But we don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the danger of uncertain threats, particularly regarding nuclear weapons.
Condoleezza Rice's quote highlights the grave concern of the potential threat posed by Saddam Hussein's pursuit of nuclear weapons. It underscores the importance of preemptive measures against uncertain dangers, as waiting until a nuclear attack occurs—symbolized by the 'smoking gun' being a 'mushroom cloud'—could have catastrophic consequences.
Themes
NuclearUncertaintyThreatPreventionSaddamSecurity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a political debate about national security.
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Does anybody think these people were just sitting around drinking tea?
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