--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think anyone can predict what the…" description: "\"I don't think anyone can predict what the short term will look like. In the long term, it will be a Syria without Bashar Assad. The longer it takes, th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/adel-al-jubeir-16862_assad_i-don-t-think-anyone-can-predict-what-th_1373119.jpg" --- # I don't think anyone can predict what the short term will… ![“I don't think anyone can predict what the short term will look like. In the long term, it will be a Syria without Bashar Assad. The longer it takes, the worse it will get.” quote by Adel al-Jubeir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/adel-al-jubeir-16862_assad_i-don-t-think-anyone-can-predict-what-th_1373119.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/adel-al-jubeir-16862_assad_i-don-t-think-anyone-can-predict-what-th_1373119.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/adel-al-jubeir-16862_assad_i-don-t-think-anyone-can-predict-what-th_1373119.jpg) > “I don't think anyone can predict what the short term will look like. In the long term, it will be a Syria without Bashar Assad. The longer it takes, the worse it will get.” [Adel al-Jubeir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adel-al-jubeir/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Short‑term predictions are impossible; long‑term outlook suggests a post‑Bashar Syria, but delays worsen outcomes. **In simple terms:** We can’t predict near future; long term may be better but delayed. Key Takeaway Consider long‑term strategies despite uncertainty. Themes politics conflict forecasting Mood cautious analytical Type political strategic When to use this quote - policy planning - diplomacy - media analysis Key Concepts geopolitics future studies Questions to Reflect On - What actions can mitigate short‑term volatility? - How can we prepare for uncertain futures? A Different Perspective Uncertainty can lead to paralysis and miscalculation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assad/) [Assad Longer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assad-longer-4734061/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-term/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Short term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-term/) [Syria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syria/) [Syria Bashar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syria-bashar-4734062/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Term Syria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term-syria-4001446/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [ In Syria, if \[Bashar al-\] Assad had just been a statesman and handed over the reigns in time, Syria would not be heading down… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/in-syria-if-bashar-al-assad-had-just-been-a-statesman-and-handed-over/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [We have always said there are two ways to resolve Syria, and both will end up with the same result: a Syria without Bashar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adel-al-jubeir/we-have-always-said-there-are-two-ways-to-resolve-syria-and-both-will/) [Adel al-Jubeir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adel-al-jubeir/) > [ Why should you use a term \[rebels\] in the United States and England and maybe other countries and use another term in Syria ?… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/why-should-you-use-a-term-rebels-in-the-united-states-and-england-and/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [ \[Bashar\] Assad himself has said on several occasions recently that if the people of Syria don't believe I should be there in the future,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/bashar-assad-himself-has-said-on-several-occasions-recently-that-if/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Assad is always a priority. That is not an issue. He is a war crime. He has done terrible things to his own people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-haley/assad-is-always-a-priority-that-is-not-an-issue-he-is-a-war-crime-he/) [Nikki Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-haley/) > [Unless there is meaningful change in Syria and an end to the crackdown, President Assad and those around him will find themselves isolated internationally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hague/unless-there-is-meaningful-change-in-syria-and-an-end-to-the/) [William Hague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hague/) > [ If Russia is there \[in Syria\] alone fighting them \[ISIL\], guess what? Russia becomes the target and Russia starts seeing - who knows -… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/if-russia-is-there-in-syria-alone-fighting-them-isil-guess-what/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [All dignified people in the world, whether Arabs or Muslims or others with dignity, are very proud of the speech made by president Bashar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-galloway/all-dignified-people-in-the-world-whether-arabs-or-muslims-or-others/) [George Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-galloway/) > [ I'll tell you whose view on \[Bashar\] Assad is the same as mine. It's Prime Minister \[Benjamin\] Netanyahu. Prime Minister Netanyahu has said Israel… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-ll-tell-you-whose-view-on-bashar-assad-is-the-same-as-mine-it-s/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [ If we topple \[Bashar\] Assad, the result will be ISIS will take over Syria, and it will worsen U.S. national security interests. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/if-we-topple-bashar-assad-the-result-will-be-isis-will-take-over/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [We know that russians are deeply engaged in supporting Assad because they want to have a place in the Middle East. They have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-know-that-russians-are-deeply-engaged-in-supporting-assad-because/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [ If \[Bashar\] Assad himself could save this whole process by saying, "I will engage in a managed transition where we all work together to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/if-bashar-assad-himself-could-save-this-whole-process-by-saying-i/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [The principal sponsors of the terrorists are not religious fanatics. "Palestine's Yasser Arafat, Iraq's Saddam Hussein, and Syria's Assad family have made themselves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley-jr/the-principal-sponsors-of-the-terrorists-are-not-religious-fanatics/) [William F. Buckley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-buckley-jr/) > [ You cannot bring peace in Syria as long as \[Bashar\] Assad is, in fact, there. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/you-cannot-bring-peace-in-syria-as-long-as-bashar-assad-is-in-fact/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [ People talk about \[Bashar\] Assad running Syria. He doesn't control his own country. He's down to about 20, 25 percent of the country. What… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/people-talk-about-bashar-assad-running-syria-he-doesn-t-control-his/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) ## More by Adel al-Jubeir > [Iran has been a neighbor for millenia, and will continue to be a neighbor for millenia. We have no issue with seeking to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adel-al-jubeir/iran-has-been-a-neighbor-for-millenia-and-will-continue-to-be-a/) [Adel al-Jubeir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adel-al-jubeir/) > [There is nothing to encourage. The Iranians should just stay away from us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adel-al-jubeir/there-is-nothing-to-encourage-the-iranians-should-just-stay-away-from/) [Adel al-Jubeir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adel-al-jubeir/) > [As long as Iran's aggressive policies continue, it's going to be bad for the region. Iran has to decide whether it wants a revolution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adel-al-jubeir/as-long-as-iran-s-aggressive-policies-continue-it-s-going-to-be-bad/) [Adel al-Jubeir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adel-al-jubeir/) > [After the revolution of 1979, Iran embarked on a policy of sectarianism. Iran began a policy of expanding its revolution, of interfering with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adel-al-jubeir/after-the-revolution-of-1979-iran-embarked-on-a-policy-of/) [Adel al-Jubeir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adel-al-jubeir/) > [You cannot lecture another people about what you think is right or wrong based on your value system unless you're willing to accept others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adel-al-jubeir/you-cannot-lecture-another-people-about-what-you-think-is-right-or/) [Adel al-Jubeir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adel-al-jubeir/) > [Bashar Assad has said many things. We will see in the near term whether he is serious about a political process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adel-al-jubeir/bashar-assad-has-said-many-things-we-will-see-in-the-near-term/) [Adel al-Jubeir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adel-al-jubeir/) > [The war in Yemen is not a war that we wanted. We had no other option - there was a radical militia allied with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adel-al-jubeir/the-war-in-yemen-is-not-a-war-that-we-wanted-we-had-no-other-option/) [Adel al-Jubeir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adel-al-jubeir/) > [Daesh is attacking us. Their leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, wants to destroy the Saudi state. These people are criminals. They're psychopaths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adel-al-jubeir/daesh-is-attacking-us-their-leader-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-wants-to/) [Adel al-Jubeir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adel-al-jubeir/) > [ We warned when the crisis began in 2011 that unless it was resolved quickly, the country \[Syria\] would be destroyed. Unfortunately, our warnings are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adel-al-jubeir/we-warned-when-the-crisis-began-in-2011-that-unless-it-was-resolved/) [Adel al-Jubeir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adel-al-jubeir/) > [We want to have good ties with the Iranians, but if they want good ties with us, then I tell them: Don't keep attacking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adel-al-jubeir/we-want-to-have-good-ties-with-the-iranians-but-if-they-want-good/) [Adel al-Jubeir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adel-al-jubeir/) > [Show me one Iranian diplomat we killed! I can show you many Saudi diplomats who were killed by Iran.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adel-al-jubeir/show-me-one-iranian-diplomat-we-killed-i-can-show-you-many-saudi/) [Adel al-Jubeir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adel-al-jubeir/) > [We can't do both. If you want us to lead, don't criticize us. And if you want us to play a supporting role, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adel-al-jubeir/we-can-t-do-both-if-you-want-us-to-lead-don-t-criticize-us-and-if-you/) [Adel al-Jubeir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adel-al-jubeir/) > [People are saying, "Oh my God, Saudi Arabia has changed." It's a contradiction. Do you want us to lead, or do you want us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adel-al-jubeir/people-are-saying-oh-my-god-saudi-arabia-has-changed-it-s-a/) [Adel al-Jubeir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adel-al-jubeir/) > [The Middle East has gone through periods of turmoil before. In the 1950s and 1960s, there were revolutions. When monarchies were collapsing in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adel-al-jubeir/the-middle-east-has-gone-through-periods-of-turmoil-before-in-the/) [Adel al-Jubeir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adel-al-jubeir/) > [What we want is stability and security so we can focus on our own development. But we have these problems in our region, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adel-al-jubeir/what-we-want-is-stability-and-security-so-we-can-focus-on-our-own/) [Adel al-Jubeir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adel-al-jubeir/) [Explore all 38 Adel al-Jubeir quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adel-al-jubeir/) ## More Assad quotes > [ People talk about \[Bashar\] Assad running Syria. He doesn't control his own country. He's down to about 20, 25 percent of the country. What… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/people-talk-about-bashar-assad-running-syria-he-doesn-t-control-his/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [We could have made peace with Syrian dictator Bashar Assad a long time ago. It didn't happen, because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/we-could-have-made-peace-with-syrian-dictator-bashar-assad-a-long/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [ You cannot bring peace in Syria as long as \[Bashar\] Assad is, in fact, there. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/you-cannot-bring-peace-in-syria-as-long-as-bashar-assad-is-in-fact/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Assad's mother was a terror. He was terrified of her and she kept saying to him, you're not like your father. That's interesting, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/assad-s-mother-was-a-terror-he-was-terrified-of-her-and-she-kept/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [ We have to do one thing at a time. We can't be fighting ISIS and fighting \[Bashar\]Assad. Assad is fighting ISIS. He is fighting… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-have-to-do-one-thing-at-a-time-we-can-t-be-fighting-isis-and/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“Assad whistled a few notes of one of his native country's melancholic songs. It sounded as though he was whistling backwards”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jussi-adler-olsen/assad-whistled-a-few-notes-of-one-of-his-native-country-s-melancholic/) [Jussi Adler-Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jussi-adler-olsen/) > [ \[Bashar\] Assad is one of the main reasons why ISIS even exists to begin with. Assad is a puppet of Iran. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/bashar-assad-is-one-of-the-main-reasons-why-isis-even-exists-to-begin/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Bashar Assad is a major cause of the refugees which are now flooding Europe and causing such consternation in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/bashar-assad-is-a-major-cause-of-the-refugees-which-are-now-flooding/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [The principal sponsors of the terrorists are not religious fanatics. "Palestine's Yasser Arafat, Iraq's Saddam Hussein, and Syria's Assad family have made themselves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley-jr/the-principal-sponsors-of-the-terrorists-are-not-religious-fanatics/) [William F. Buckley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-buckley-jr/) > [ I think those who have wanted regime \[of Bashar Assad\] change have made a mistake. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-those-who-have-wanted-regime-of-bashar-assad-change-have-made/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [ If \[Bashar\] Assad himself could save this whole process by saying, "I will engage in a managed transition where we all work together to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/if-bashar-assad-himself-could-save-this-whole-process-by-saying-i/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [We know that russians are deeply engaged in supporting Assad because they want to have a place in the Middle East. They have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-know-that-russians-are-deeply-engaged-in-supporting-assad-because/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [ If we topple \[Bashar\] Assad, the result will be ISIS will take over Syria, and it will worsen U.S. national security interests. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/if-we-topple-bashar-assad-the-result-will-be-isis-will-take-over/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [ Every chance at destabilizing \[Bashar\] Assad... the bombing campaign causes a flood of refugees into Jordan, there's already half a million in Jordan. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/every-chance-at-destabilizing-bashar-assad-the-bombing-campaign/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [ I'll tell you whose view on \[Bashar\] Assad is the same as mine. It's Prime Minister \[Benjamin\] Netanyahu. Prime Minister Netanyahu has said Israel… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-ll-tell-you-whose-view-on-bashar-assad-is-the-same-as-mine-it-s/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) [Browse all 130 Assad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assad/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think anyone can predict what the short term will look like. In the long term, it will be a Syria without Bashar Assad. 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