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so deep, “you could have brought the whole of ExxonMobil…

“so deep, “you could have brought the whole of ExxonMobil out there and they wouldn’t have been able to operate that thing worth a damn,” said Philip J. Carroll Jr., a former president of Shell U.S.A., who was appointed by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to serve as Paul Bremer’s” quote by Steve Coll
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““so deep, “you could have brought the whole of ExxonMobil out there and they wouldn’t have been able to operate that thing worth a damn,” said Philip J. Carroll Jr., a former president of Shell U.S.A., who was appointed by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to serve as Paul Bremer’s””

Steve Coll

About This Quote

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

He illustrates the massive power of large corporations and their vulnerability to regulation

In simple terms: Big companies can be crippled by regulatory limits

Key Takeaway

Regulation can curb corporate power

Themes

economics power regulation

Mood

critical analytical

Type

nonfiction political

When to use this quote

  • energy sector
  • legal battles
  • policy making
  • corporate strategy

Key Concepts

antitrust government oversight

Questions to Reflect On

  • When should regulation be tightened?
  • How balance growth with oversight?
A Different Perspective

Regulation may stifle innovation if over‑applied

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