--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We remember the specter of sectarian…" description: "\"We remember the specter of sectarian violence -- al Qaeda's attacks on mosques and pilgrims, militias that carried out campaigns of intimidation and ca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/barack-obama-17_al-qaeda_we-remember-the-specter-of-sectarian-vio_2670778.jpg" --- # We remember the specter of sectarian violence -- al… ![“We remember the specter of sectarian violence -- al Qaeda's attacks on mosques and pilgrims, militias that carried out campaigns of intimidation and campaigns of assassination. And in the face of ancient divisions, you stood firm to help those Iraqis who put their faith in the future.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/barack-obama-17_al-qaeda_we-remember-the-specter-of-sectarian-vio_2670778.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/barack-obama-17_al-qaeda_we-remember-the-specter-of-sectarian-vio_2670778.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/barack-obama-17_al-qaeda_we-remember-the-specter-of-sectarian-vio_2670778.jpg) > “We remember the specter of sectarian violence -- al Qaeda's attacks on mosques and pilgrims, militias that carried out campaigns of intimidation and campaigns of assassination. And in the face of ancient divisions, you stood firm to help those Iraqis who put their faith in the future.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing that sectarian violence persists, yet steadfast support for hopeful Iraqis can counter division. **In simple terms:** Support hopeful Iraqis amid violence. Key Takeaway Support hope despite conflict. Themes conflict hope solidarity Mood hopeful inspirational Type speech political When to use this quote - humanitarian aid - community outreach - peacebuilding - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts politics human rights Questions to Reflect On - How can you contribute to lasting peace in divided societies? - What role does hope play in overcoming sectarian strife? A Different Perspective Focusing only on violence can overlook the resilience of those seeking peace. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Al qaeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/al-qaeda/) [Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/als/) [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Assassination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assassination/) [Campaigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaigns/) [Division](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/division/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Firm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firm/) [Help Iraqis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-iraqis-2501215/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Intimidation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimidation/) [Iraq war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq-war/) [Iraqis Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraqis-faith-2501214/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Militia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/militia/) [Mosques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mosques/) [Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pilgrim/) [Pilgrims Militias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pilgrims-militias-2501216/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Sectarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sectarian/) [Sectarian Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sectarian-violence-2501213/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [I think America should amass a strategy for success, and set out the milestones. We need to help the Iraqis get their democracy up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/i-think-america-should-amass-a-strategy-for-success-and-set-out-the/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [I believe that the Iraqis have an opportunity now, without Saddam Hussein there, to build the first multiconfessional Arab democracy in the Middle East.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-believe-that-the-iraqis-have-an-opportunity-now-without-saddam/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [We must be vigilant that we don't sink into the morass of sectarianism, mixing, pettiness etc. We must not get involved in unprincipled slagging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-power/we-must-be-vigilant-that-we-don-t-sink-into-the-morass-of/) [Thomas S. Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-power/) > [The problem is not with people or churches that are politically active. It is with a party that has gone so far in adopting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-problem-is-not-with-people-or-churches-that-are-politically/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There isn't any air power in the world that can take care of the problem of sectarian divisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-menendez/there-isn-t-any-air-power-in-the-world-that-can-take-care-of-the/) [Bob Menendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-menendez/) > [Sectarian feelings and criticism of other teachings or other sects is very bad, poisonous, and should be avoided.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/sectarian-feelings-and-criticism-of-other-teachings-or-other-sects-is/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Sectarian divide has created a schism in our society that is a major challenge. As monarch of all Bahrainis, it pains me to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamad-bin-isa-al-khalifa/sectarian-divide-has-created-a-schism-in-our-society-that-is-a-major/) [Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamad-bin-isa-al-khalifa/) > [How can a country be home to sectarian militias and yet also to people who are educated, sophisticated, and pluralistic? This is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annia-ciezadlo/how-can-a-country-be-home-to-sectarian-militias-and-yet-also-to/) [Annia Ciezadlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annia-ciezadlo/) > [Well I don't feel sectarian against sparseness, although I sometimes get a little chippy about this. I resent the way that a certain notion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/china-mi-ville/well-i-don-t-feel-sectarian-against-sparseness-although-i-sometimes/) [China Mieville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/china-mi-ville/) > [A truly vibrant and creative culture depends on a system of education which is not divided along class and sectarian lines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-paulin/a-truly-vibrant-and-creative-culture-depends-on-a-system-of-education/) [Tom Paulin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-paulin/) > [Obviously the extremists want to provoke sectarian warfare, and I am struck by the fact that over a three-year period, leaders of the (Iraqi)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-rodman/obviously-the-extremists-want-to-provoke-sectarian-warfare-and-i-am/) [Peter Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-rodman/) > [The US empowered the Shi'a Islamic political groups and marginalised a big part of Iraq who were recognised as Sunni people. It was only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanar-mohammed/the-us-empowered-the-shi-a-islamic-political-groups-and-marginalised/) [Yanar Mohammed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanar-mohammed/) > [“For while libertarians have too often been opportunists who lose sight of or under-cut their ultimate goal, some have erred in the opposite direction:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-n-rothbard/for-while-libertarians-have-too-often-been-opportunists-who-lose/) [Murray N. Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-n-rothbard/) > [The Alternative Vote is sectarian and self-serving and it will not improve people's lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thornberry/the-alternative-vote-is-sectarian-and-self-serving-and-it-will-not/) [Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thornberry/) > [The narrow sectarian cannot read astronomy with impunity. The creeds of his church shrivel like dried leaves at the door of the observatory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-narrow-sectarian-cannot-read-astronomy-with-impunity-the-creeds/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Al qaeda quotes > [There's overwhelming evidence... circumstantial and otherwise, to suggest a connection between Iraq and al Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/there-s-overwhelming-evidence-circumstantial-and-otherwise-to-suggest/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [Critics have stepped up their attacks on the President for authorizing the National Security Agency to listen to international communications of known al Qaeda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/critics-have-stepped-up-their-attacks-on-the-president-for/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [“I do not go to church. I don’t go to Christian church or Jew church or any other church. I don’t go to church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ian-black/i-do-not-go-to-church-i-don-t-go-to-christian-church-or-jew-church-or/) [Michael Ian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ian-black/) > [ This war \[in Syria\] is going to support Al-Qaeda and the same people that killed Americans in the 11th of September. The second thing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/this-war-in-syria-is-going-to-support-al-qaeda-and-the-same-people/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [The people who illegally cross into the country are from countries that have very close ties to al Qaeda, whether it's Yemen or Afghanistan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/the-people-who-illegally-cross-into-the-country-are-from-countries/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [The White House was signaling that the threat posed by Saddam Hussein was of such urgency that it had priority over the crushing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-graham/the-white-house-was-signaling-that-the-threat-posed-by-saddam-hussein/) [Bob Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-graham/) > [I was on the front lines in the Cold War, and I was on the front lines in the fight against Al Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/i-was-on-the-front-lines-in-the-cold-war-and-i-was-on-the-front-lines/) [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) > [If you don't understand what al Qaeda was trying to do on 9/11, if you don't have a sense of who Osama bin Laden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/if-you-don-t-understand-what-al-qaeda-was-trying-to-do-on-9-11-if-you/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [Some have argued that the President is required to get permission from a federal court before taking action against a United States citizen who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/some-have-argued-that-the-president-is-required-to-get-permission/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [Iraq, for the first time, gives al Qaeda and its allies contiguous safe-haven territory to train and launch attacks into the Levant. First into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scheuer/iraq-for-the-first-time-gives-al-qaeda-and-its-allies-contiguous-safe/) [Michael Scheuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scheuer/) > [The idea the president of the United States was warned that Al-Qaeda was going to attack the United States and did nothing about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-idea-the-president-of-the-united-states-was-warned-that-al-qaeda/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [There's more evil in the charts than an Al-Qaeda suggestion box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/there-s-more-evil-in-the-charts-than-an-al-qaeda-suggestion-box/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [Muslim leaders around the globe have to continue working with us to decisively and unequivocally reject the hateful ideology that groups like ISIL and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/muslim-leaders-around-the-globe-have-to-continue-working-with-us-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Mistreatment of al Qaeda members and their friends and hangers-on is something I number among my moral concerns. But it's number 1,000,000,001.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/mistreatment-of-al-qaeda-members-and-their-friends-and-hangers-on-is/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [(The United States) is the same as al-Qaeda, under a different color flag, calling on the name a different God to sanction and approve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremiah-wright/the-united-states-is-the-same-as-al-qaeda-under-a-different-color/) [Jeremiah Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremiah-wright/) [Browse all 360 Al qaeda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/al-qaeda/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We remember the specter of sectarian violence -- al Qaeda's attacks on mosques and pilgrims, militias that carried out campaigns of intimidation and campaigns of assassination. 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