--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a reporter, I embedded for modest…" description: "\"As a reporter, I embedded for modest stints with American soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. When I'm asked about those experiences, I always say - and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/alex-berenson-2775_about_as-a-reporter-i-embedded-for-modest-stin_3225667.jpg" --- # As a reporter, I embedded for modest stints with American… ![“As a reporter, I embedded for modest stints with American soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. When I'm asked about those experiences, I always say - and mean - that we civilians don't deserve the soldiers we have.” quote by Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/alex-berenson-2775_about_as-a-reporter-i-embedded-for-modest-stin_3225667.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/alex-berenson-2775_about_as-a-reporter-i-embedded-for-modest-stin_3225667.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/alex-berenson-2775_about_as-a-reporter-i-embedded-for-modest-stin_3225667.jpg) > “As a reporter, I embedded for modest stints with American soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. When I'm asked about those experiences, I always say - and mean - that we civilians don't deserve the soldiers we have.” [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author suggests that civilians often fail to appreciate or support the sacrifices and qualities of the soldiers they rely on. **In simple terms:** Civilians don’t deserve the soldiers they have. Key Takeaway Recognize and honor soldiers’ contributions. Themes civilians military appreciation Mood reflective serious Type observational critical When to use this quote - public discourse - policy debates - media coverage - community events Key Concepts social contract civil-military relations Questions to Reflect On - How can civilians better support soldiers? - What responsibilities do societies have toward their troops? A Different Perspective Civilian expectations may be unrealistic or uninformed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) [Civilians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilians/) [Experiences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiences/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Reporter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reporter/) [Soldiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldiers/) ## Related quotes > [For much of my life as a journalist, I've viewed myself as being embedded with civilians and with those people who live on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-scahill/for-much-of-my-life-as-a-journalist-i-ve-viewed-myself-as-being/) [Jeremy Scahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-scahill/) > [In contrast, the 'Old Europe' channels were showing film from reporters who had embedded themselves at the wrong end of the Baghdad blitz and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/in-contrast-the-old-europe-channels-were-showing-film-from-reporters/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [To be a good reporter, writing about war, you have to write about the people. 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