--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [Barack] Obama can draw lines for himself…" description: "\"[Barack] Obama can draw lines for himself and his country, not for other countries. We have our red lines, like our sovereignty, our independence, whil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ab/bashar-al-assad-1027_barack_barack-obama-can-draw-lines-for-himself_1519898.jpg" --- # \[Barack\] Obama can draw lines for himself and his country… ![“[Barack] Obama can draw lines for himself and his country, not for other countries. We have our red lines, like our sovereignty, our independence, while if you want to talk about world red lines, the United States used depleted uranium in Iraq, Israel used white phosphorus in Gaza, and nobody said…” quote by Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ab/bashar-al-assad-1027_barack_barack-obama-can-draw-lines-for-himself_1519898.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ab/bashar-al-assad-1027_barack_barack-obama-can-draw-lines-for-himself_1519898.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ab/bashar-al-assad-1027_barack_barack-obama-can-draw-lines-for-himself_1519898.jpg) > “\[Barack\] Obama can draw lines for himself and his country, not for other countries. We have our red lines, like our sovereignty, our independence, while if you want to talk about world red lines, the United States used depleted uranium in Iraq, Israel used white phosphorus in Gaza, and nobody said anything. What about the red lines ? We don't see red lines. It's political red lines.” [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker criticizes double standards in international politics, noting that powerful nations set “red lines” for themselves but ignore similar actions by others. **In simple terms:** He says countries apply rules to themselves but not to others. Key Takeaway Demand consistent standards in foreign policy. Themes politics double standards sovereignty ethics Mood critical concerned Type political analytical When to use this quote - diplomacy - policy debate - human rights Key Concepts international law power dynamics global accountability Questions to Reflect On - What are the consequences of unequal standards? - How can global norms be enforced fairly? A Different Perspective The claim may oversimplify complex geopolitical realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barack/) [Countries Red](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/countries-red-5615145/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Draws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draws/) [Gaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaza/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Israel Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel-used-5615146/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Lines Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines-political-2156264/) [Other countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other-countries/) [Phosphorus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phosphorus/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Red](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red/) [Red lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red-lines/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Sovereignty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sovereignty/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [States Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states-used-4038781/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Uranium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uranium/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Polarisation on religious lines for political gains shall not be on the BJP's agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-shah/polarisation-on-religious-lines-for-political-gains-shall-not-be-on/) [Amit Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-shah/) > [Cities are those laboratories of democracy that states used to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-garcetti/cities-are-those-laboratories-of-democracy-that-states-used-to-be/) [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) > [The treatment of the Germans by the Allies was at least as bad as the shooting of those Jews. The bombing of cities with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-ohlendorf/the-treatment-of-the-germans-by-the-allies-was-at-least-as-bad-as-the/) [Otto Ohlendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-ohlendorf/) > [Ohne Phosphor, Kein Gedanke. Without phosphorus there would be no thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-buchner/ohne-phosphor-kein-gedanke-without-phosphorus-there-would-be-no/) [Ludwig Buchner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-buchner/) > [In a museum in London there is an exhibit called "The Value of Man": a long coffinlike box with lots of compartments where they've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/in-a-museum-in-london-there-is-an-exhibit-called-the-value-of-man-a/) [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [“Literature is like phosphorus: it shines with its maximum brilliance and the moment when it attempts to die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-barthes/literature-is-like-phosphorus-it-shines-with-its-maximum-brilliance/) [Roland Barthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-barthes/) > [Chocolate is an extraordinary source of key stress-fighting minerals including: magnesium, iron, chromium, vanadium, copper, zinc, manganese, and phosphorus. These minerals favorably influence a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wolfe/chocolate-is-an-extraordinary-source-of-key-stress-fighting-minerals/) [David Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wolfe/) > [And now it stands proven that Satan, or the Red Fiery Dragon, the 'Lord of Phosphorus,' and Lucifer, or 'Light-Bearer,' is in us: it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/and-now-it-stands-proven-that-satan-or-the-red-fiery-dragon-the-lord/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [Water: 35 Liters. Carbon: 20 Kg. Ammonia: 4 Liters. Lime: 1.5 Kg. Phosphorus: 800 g. Salt: 250 g. Saltpeter: 100g. Sulfur: 80g. Fluorine: 7.5…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiromu-arakawa/water-35-liters-carbon-20-kg-ammonia-4-liters-lime-1-5-kg-phosphorus/) [Hiromu Arakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiromu-arakawa/) > [The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition claims that a moderate beer drinker - whatever that means - swallows 11 percent of his dietary protein…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-holland/the-american-journal-of-clinical-nutrition-claims-that-a-moderate/) [Barbara Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-holland/) > [Agassiz does recommend authors to eat fish, because the phosphorus in it makes brains. But I cannot help you to a decision about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/agassiz-does-recommend-authors-to-eat-fish-because-the-phosphorus-in/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“About eight days ago I discovered that sulfur in burning, far from losing weight, on the contrary, gains it; it is the same with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-lavoisier/about-eight-days-ago-i-discovered-that-sulfur-in-burning-far-from/) [Antoine Lavoisier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-lavoisier/) > [Carob is a brown powder made from the pulverized fruit of a Mediterranean evergreen. Some consider carob an adequate substitute for chocolate because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-boynton/carob-is-a-brown-powder-made-from-the-pulverized-fruit-of-a/) [Sandra Boynton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-boynton/) > [Who knows whether it is not true that phosphorus and mind are not the same thing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/who-knows-whether-it-is-not-true-that-phosphorus-and-mind-are-not-the/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [Our deeds attach themselves to us like the flame to phosphorus. They constitute our brilliance, to be sure, but only in so far as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/our-deeds-attach-themselves-to-us-like-the-flame-to-phosphorus-they/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) ## More by Bashar al-Assad > [Lebanon was under Israeli occupation, up to its capital, but we did not consider that a disaster. Why? Because it was very clear that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/lebanon-was-under-israeli-occupation-up-to-its-capital-but-we-did-not/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [I never rejected any responsibility, but that depends on the decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/i-never-rejected-any-responsibility-but-that-depends-on-the-decision/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [If you are going to be a mediator or arbitrator you have to be in the middle between the two sides; you cannot take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/if-you-are-going-to-be-a-mediator-or-arbitrator-you-have-to-be-in-the/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [ The other thing we did as government is to open gates for the civilians to leave that \[ eastern part\] area \[in Aleppo\], and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/the-other-thing-we-did-as-government-is-to-open-gates-for-the/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [ 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/) > [Freedom and democracy are nothing but instruments, just like stability. The goal is called progress and growth. Anyone who puts freedom ahead of stability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/freedom-and-democracy-are-nothing-but-instruments-just-like-stability/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [ I will tell \[Barack Obama\] very simply : present what you have as evidence to the public, be transparent. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/i-will-tell-barack-obama-very-simply-present-what-you-have-as/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [ \[Enemies of Syria\] are the enemies of the people and the enemies of God. And the enemies of God will go to hell. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/enemies-of-syria-are-the-enemies-of-the-people-and-the-enemies-of-god/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [The problem is not the occupation, but how people deal with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/the-problem-is-not-the-occupation-but-how-people-deal-with-it/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [The first question that I ask : do I have public support or not. That is the first question that I asked as President.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/the-first-question-that-i-ask-do-i-have-public-support-or-not-that-is/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [The criteria or the paradigm for us is not the West, not the Western paradigm, because the West has its own culture, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/the-criteria-or-the-paradigm-for-us-is-not-the-west-not-the-western/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [ \[It is important\] to have stability and to have security, which means humanitarian equals fighting terrorists. You cannot talk about humanitarian aid and supporting… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/it-is-important-to-have-stability-and-to-have-security-which-means/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [Iran doesn't have any soldier in Syria, so how could Iran help me ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/iran-doesn-t-have-any-soldier-in-syria-so-how-could-iran-help-me/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [Conversely, it is correct to say that bringing about peace would be the best way to fight terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/conversely-it-is-correct-to-say-that-bringing-about-peace-would-be/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [The hope for an American is different from the hope of a Syrian. For me, I should be the hope of the Syrian, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/the-hope-for-an-american-is-different-from-the-hope-of-a-syrian-for/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) [Explore all 306 Bashar al-Assad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) ## More Barack quotes > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [We know the candidate Barack Obama, what he was like - the anti-war government nig... America was a source for division around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-know-the-candidate-barack-obama-what-he-was-like-the-anti-war/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [We're in more wars today under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton than under George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan. Yet they tell you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-re-in-more-wars-today-under-barack-obama-and-hillary-clinton-than/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I can tell you who's planning terroris attacks. The leaders of ISIL. And I can tell you where they're at. They're in Raqqa, Syria.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-tell-you-who-s-planning-terroris-attacks-the-leaders-of-isil/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [ The president \[Barack Obama\] asked for a commitment of, I think, 100,000 jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next couple of years.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/the-president-barack-obama-asked-for-a-commitment-of-i-think-100-000/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [The big story today, Barack Obama was accused of insulting Sarah Palin when he criticized Republican policies by saying, you can put lipstick on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/the-big-story-today-barack-obama-was-accused-of-insulting-sarah-palin/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [ I think the president's \[Barack Obama\] position has been very clear on Syria. He wants more aggressive, he's put the Special Ops on the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/i-think-the-president-s-barack-obama-position-has-been-very-clear-on/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [ It cannot be an American fight. And I think what the president \[Barack Obama\] has consistently said - which I agree with - is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-cannot-be-an-american-fight-and-i-think-what-the-president-barack/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [It doesn't matter to me where Barack Obama goes. If he wants to go to Hawaii because it's his home state, fine! Hunky-dory. Plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-doesn-t-matter-to-me-where-barack-obama-goes-if-he-wants-to-go-to/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ It wasn't \[Barack\] Obama per se; it was the feeling on the ground; it was seeing an old black woman in a wheelchair being… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/it-wasn-t-barack-obama-per-se-it-was-the-feeling-on-the-ground-it-was/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [I don't think that we really know a whole lot about Barack Obama at all that you would really call distinctive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-mcwhorter/i-don-t-think-that-we-really-know-a-whole-lot-about-barack-obama-at/) [John H. McWhorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-mcwhorter/) > [Just like Barack Obama, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and now I am a reluctant groom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/just-like-barack-obama-my-views-on-gay-marriage-have-evolved-and-now/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [I think President Barack Obama has been an extraordinarily successful president, and that this period will record that with a bunch of exclamation points.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/i-think-president-barack-obama-has-been-an-extraordinarily-successful/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atherton/the-archives-recall-not-one-single-incriminating-incident-not-one/) [Michael Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-atherton/) > [In public, Barack Obama's giving the simple version of his beliefs for the mass public. In private, he can discuss it at a really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-chait/in-public-barack-obama-s-giving-the-simple-version-of-his-beliefs-for/) [Jonathan Chait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-chait/) [Browse all 1,672 Barack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barack/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[Barack] Obama can draw lines for himself and his country, not for other countries. We have our red lines, like our sovereignty, our independence, while if you want to talk about world red lines, the United States used depleted uranium in Iraq, Israel used white phosphorus in Gaza, and nobody said anything. What about the red lines ? We don't see red lines. 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