Skip to content

You saw on your TV what happened in New Orleans after…

“You saw on your TV what happened in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The Reserves or National Guard are usually the people we use for those national emergencies. They weren't here, they were over in Iraq, and so we were less protected.” quote by Joseph Stiglitz
Download Open image
“You saw on your TV what happened in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The Reserves or National Guard are usually the people we use for those national emergencies. They weren't here, they were over in Iraq, and so we were less protected.”

Joseph Stiglitz

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote highlights how deployment of military forces abroad can leave domestic emergencies under‑protected, exposing gaps in national preparedness.

In simple terms: Deploying troops overseas can weaken home‑front disaster response.

Key Takeaway

Balance foreign commitments with domestic readiness.

Themes

disaster response military policy public safety resource allocation

Mood

concerned urgent critical

Type

policy analysis commentary

When to use this quote

  • emergency planning
  • policy reform
  • community resilience
  • budget prioritization

Key Concepts

national security civil‑military relations risk management

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can civilian agencies fill gaps when troops are deployed abroad?
  • What policies ensure adequate domestic emergency resources?
A Different Perspective

Relying on military forces alone may ignore civilian capabilities and local expertise.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Joseph Stiglitz

Explore all 251 Joseph Stiglitz quotes

More Emergencies quotes

Browse all 485 Emergencies quotes