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I will confess to you that, you know, one of the…

“I will confess to you that, you know, one of the statements that’s been attributed to me that I’m sort of proud of is somebody said, you know, “What do we do about Osama bin Laden?” And they asked me, “Can we forgive him?” And I said, “Forgiveness is up to God. I just hope we hurry up the…” quote by Norman Schwarzkopf
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““I will confess to you that, you know, one of the statements that’s been attributed to me that I’m sort of proud of is somebody said, you know, “What do we do about Osama bin Laden?” And they asked me, “Can we forgive him?” And I said, “Forgiveness is up to God. I just hope we hurry up the meeting.” And that’s the way I feel about him, really. [8 February 2003 show of Meet The Press, NBC News]””

Norman Schwarzkopf

About This Quote

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

He emphasizes that forgiveness is a divine matter, not a political decision, and urges swift action against threats.

In simple terms: Forgiveness belongs to God; act quickly against danger.

Key Takeaway

Leave forgiveness to God; act swiftly.

Themes

justice morality politics war forgiveness

Mood

serious reflective

Type

political ethical

When to use this quote

  • policy decision
  • military response
  • public discourse

Key Concepts

divine authority ethical limits strategic urgency

Questions to Reflect On

  • Is forgiveness ever appropriate in wartime?
  • How should leaders balance moral and strategic concerns?
A Different Perspective

It may simplify complex moral dilemmas into binary choices.

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