Areas Quote by Bashar al-Assad
“Talking about winning and losing is like if you're talking about two armies fighting on two territories, which is not the case. Those [terrorists] are gangs, coming from abroad, infiltrate inhabited areas, kill the people, take their houses, and shoot at the army. The army cannot do the same, and the army doesn't exist everywhere.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Conflict Narrative, 2015
Comparing war to a game oversimplifies complex insurgency dynamics and civilian suffering.
In simple terms: War is not a simple win‑lose battle.
Recognize civilian impact in conflict analysis.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy making
- humanitarian aid
- media reporting
- military strategy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does framing affect public perception?
- What responsibilities do leaders have in describing conflict?
Oversimplification can ignore root causes and human cost.