--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We should never hesitate to use military…" description: "\"We should never hesitate to use military force, and I will not, as president, in order to keep the American people safe. But we have to use our militar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/barack-obama-17_american-people_we-should-never-hesitate-to-use-military_1798188.jpg" --- # We should never hesitate to use military force, and I will… ![“We should never hesitate to use military force, and I will not, as president, in order to keep the American people safe. But we have to use our military wisely. And we did not use our military wisely in Iraq.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/barack-obama-17_american-people_we-should-never-hesitate-to-use-military_1798188.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/barack-obama-17_american-people_we-should-never-hesitate-to-use-military_1798188.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f14/barack-obama-17_american-people_we-should-never-hesitate-to-use-military_1798188.jpg) > “We should never hesitate to use military force, and I will not, as president, in order to keep the American people safe. But we have to use our military wisely. And we did not use our military wisely in Iraq.” [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. Advocates prudent use of military force, acknowledging past missteps, especially in Iraq. **In simple terms:** Use force wisely, learn from past errors. Key Takeaway Apply military power responsibly. Themes security policy leadership war ethics Mood cautious reflective Type political policy When to use this quote - National security planning - policy debates - military interventions - government accountability Key Concepts Strategic decisionmaking military doctrine foreign policy Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance safety with restraint? - What safeguards prevent misuse of military power? A Different Perspective Overreliance on force can cause unintended harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Force President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force-president-2006756/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Military force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military-force/) [Military Wisely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military-wisely-2006754/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Use Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-military-1101775/) [Wisely Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisely-iraq-2006755/) ## Related quotes > [My advice is: 1. Be judicious in the use of military force. 2. When military force is required, use overwhelming force. 3. Do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-stivers/my-advice-is-1-be-judicious-in-the-use-of-military-force-2-when/) [Steve Stivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-stivers/) > [I think most Americans believe that although it's better not to use military force if you can avoid it, that the world simply doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kagan/i-think-most-americans-believe-that-although-it-s-better-not-to-use/) [Robert Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kagan/) > [If you are going to use military force, then you ought to use overwhelming military force. Use too much and deliberately use too much;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-lemay/if-you-are-going-to-use-military-force-then-you-ought-to-use/) [Curtis LeMay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-lemay/) > [We need, from time to time, to use military force or all of the resources at our command in order to defend the nation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/we-need-from-time-to-time-to-use-military-force-or-all-of-the/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [We don't have any intention whatsoever to use military force to solve the Palestinian problem. But when it comes to terror - when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-sharon/we-don-t-have-any-intention-whatsoever-to-use-military-force-to-solve/) [Ariel Sharon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-sharon/) > [We can no longer apply the classic criteria to clearly determine whether and when we should use military force. We are waging war in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-schily/we-can-no-longer-apply-the-classic-criteria-to-clearly-determine/) [Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) > [I don't think we need to have an either/or debate about the use of military force - I think you can be both tough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-don-t-think-we-need-to-have-an-either-or-debate-about-the-use-of/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We have an authorization to use military force against terrorists. We passed it after 9/11.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-have-an-authorization-to-use-military-force-against-terrorists-we/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Any time you use military force, you have got to have a clear purpose that military forces can achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/any-time-you-use-military-force-you-have-got-to-have-a-clear-purpose/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [For interests that are vital to the U.S. - that is, essential for our survival and wellbeing - the U.S. should be prepared to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-t-allison/for-interests-that-are-vital-to-the-u-s-that-is-essential-for-our/) [Graham T. Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-t-allison/) > [We should be more modest in our belief that we can impose democracy on a country through military force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-should-be-more-modest-in-our-belief-that-we-can-impose-democracy/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ I would be so happy if we never had to use \[military\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-would-be-so-happy-if-we-never-had-to-use-military/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I am an Air Force brat - that's the terminology they use for military kids who are traveling constantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-an-air-force-brat-that-s-the-terminology-they-use-for-military/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The U.S. can no longer be the sheriff for the whole world. We can't be everywhere, and we can't always use military boots on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dutch-ruppersberger/the-u-s-can-no-longer-be-the-sheriff-for-the-whole-world-we-can-t-be/) [Dutch Ruppersberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dutch-ruppersberger/) > [I am the most militaristic person but you have to know when to use the military. Or have it so strong that nobody is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-am-the-most-militaristic-person-but-you-have-to-know-when-to-use/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) ## 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 American people quotes > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-as-much-as-government-can-do-and-must-do-it-is-ultimately-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Given a choice between two bald political candidates, the American people will vote for the less bald of the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-gold/given-a-choice-between-two-bald-political-candidates-the-american/) [Victor Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-gold/) > [When the American people saw the LA riots and crowds of Blacks cheering O.J. Simpson (who was acquitted by the almost all Black jury),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/when-the-american-people-saw-the-la-riots-and-crowds-of-blacks/) [David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/) > [In any event, it is one thing to assert, then or now, that the Iraq war was ill-advised. It is quite another to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-silberman/in-any-event-it-is-one-thing-to-assert-then-or-now-that-the-iraq-war/) [Laurence Silberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-silberman/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [I don't know a politician who enjoys fundraising. The system is such that the American people have lost faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-don-t-know-a-politician-who-enjoys-fundraising-the-system-is-such/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Probably the greatest single obstacle to the progress and happiness of the American people lies in the willingness of so many men to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/probably-the-greatest-single-obstacle-to-the-progress-and-happiness/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [If a financial institution has business operations in the United States, hires people in the United States, if they are clogged with illiquid assets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/if-a-financial-institution-has-business-operations-in-the-united/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [The coronavirus has yet again exposed the strong contrast between President Trump - who is working ardently for the American people - and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-coronavirus-has-yet-again-exposed-the-strong-contrast-between/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [The American people demand results, not rhetoric, especially when it comes to national security issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-hayworth/the-american-people-demand-results-not-rhetoric-especially-when-it/) [J. D. Hayworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-hayworth/) > [Hillary Clinton truly is sincere, but she has to connect more with the American people in terms of what she believes in and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/hillary-clinton-truly-is-sincere-but-she-has-to-connect-more-with-the/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [The American people are incredibly generous and even playful when you open yourself up and feed the media beast until it goes away satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-ball/the-american-people-are-incredibly-generous-and-even-playful-when-you/) [Krystal Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-ball/) [Browse all 2,233 American people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We should never hesitate to use military force, and I will not, as president, in order to keep the American people safe. 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