--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We cannot use jihadists because it's like…" description: "\"We cannot use jihadists because it's like shooting yourself in the foot.\" — Bashar al-Assad" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ada/bashar-al-assad-1027_feet_we-cannot-use-jihadists-because-it-s-lik_2109828.jpg" --- # We cannot use jihadists because it's like shooting… ![“We cannot use jihadists because it's like shooting yourself in the foot.” quote by Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ada/bashar-al-assad-1027_feet_we-cannot-use-jihadists-because-it-s-lik_2109828.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ada/bashar-al-assad-1027_feet_we-cannot-use-jihadists-because-it-s-lik_2109828.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ada/bashar-al-assad-1027_feet_we-cannot-use-jihadists-because-it-s-lik_2109828.jpg) > “We cannot use jihadists because it's like shooting yourself in the foot.” [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. Using jihadists as allies harms one's own cause. **In simple terms:** Allies can be self‑destructive. Key Takeaway Avoid partnerships that undermine goals. Themes politics conflict strategic alliances Mood cautious critical Type political strategic When to use this quote - military strategy - foreign policy - counterterrorism Key Concepts blowback ethical warfare Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives exist to achieve objectives? - How do you assess partner reliability? A Different Perspective Short‑term gains may cause long‑term damage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feet/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Jihadists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jihadists/) [Jihadists Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jihadists-like-4253849/) [Like Shooting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-shooting/) [Shooting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shooting/) [Shooting Foot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shooting-foot-343096/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Use Jihadists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-jihadists-4253848/) ## Related quotes > [If you throw obstacles at the relationship with Mexico, you would be shooting yourself in the foot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/if-you-throw-obstacles-at-the-relationship-with-mexico-you-would-be/) [Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) > [You're shooting yourself in the foot if you isolate or disempower the moderates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/you-re-shooting-yourself-in-the-foot-if-you-isolate-or-disempower-the/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [I could be shooting myself in the foot, but in some ways, I feel I've said all I've needed to say when to comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-liu/i-could-be-shooting-myself-in-the-foot-but-in-some-ways-i-feel-i-ve/) [Marjorie Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-liu/) > [If you take it as a compliment that you don't look your age, then you're really shooting yourself in the foot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/if-you-take-it-as-a-compliment-that-you-don-t-look-your-age-then-you/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) > [ \[ Jihadists\] are going to be against you sooner or later. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/jihadists-are-going-to-be-against-you-sooner-or-later/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [...genius is no proof against shooting one's own foot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-batchelor/genius-is-no-proof-against-shooting-one-s-own-foot/) [John Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-batchelor/) > [Basic research is like shooting an arrow in the air and, where it lands, painting a target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-burton-adkins/basic-research-is-like-shooting-an-arrow-in-the-air-and-where-it/) [Homer Burton Adkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-burton-adkins/) > [Acting without thinking is like shooting without aiming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/acting-without-thinking-is-like-shooting-without-aiming/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [This might surprise you, but I do feel like I have, because the shooting of all these films was spread out, for the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/this-might-surprise-you-but-i-do-feel-like-i-have-because-the/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [Moments of crisis, like the shooting in Newtown, tend to produce brief spikes of popular interest in gun control. My research on media attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-zuckerman/moments-of-crisis-like-the-shooting-in-newtown-tend-to-produce-brief/) [Ethan Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-zuckerman/) > [I'll be honest, I like shooting 'New Girl.' I like the people. The show is still new to me. I've never done TV like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ll-be-honest-i-like-shooting-new-girl-i-like-the-people-the-show-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'd never really shot action scenes before, but I realized early on that is very much like shooting choreography and dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-akerlund/i-d-never-really-shot-action-scenes-before-but-i-realized-early-on/) [Jonas Akerlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-akerlund/) > [It's a balance. Like, we are shooting the big car chase at the end and it's me with everybody. And I got my stunt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-tillman-jr/it-s-a-balance-like-we-are-shooting-the-big-car-chase-at-the-end-and/) [George Tillman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-tillman-jr/) > [I really like shooting in real locations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aishwarya-rajesh/i-really-like-shooting-in-real-locations/) [Aishwarya Rajesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aishwarya-rajesh/) > [“As indicated by the book’s sub-title, it is now increasingly obvious that those who would seek to be conquerors of the world in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-price/as-indicated-by-the-book-s-sub-title-it-is-now-increasingly-obvious/) [John Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-price/) ## 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 Feet quotes > [The minute you step onstage, you get eight feet taller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-cooper/the-minute-you-step-onstage-you-get-eight-feet-taller/) [Alice Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-cooper/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I always step on the plane with my right foot and touch the outside of the plane with my left hand. Sometimes you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-davis/i-always-step-on-the-plane-with-my-right-foot-and-touch-the-outside/) [Hope Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-davis/) > [The evening's the best part of the day. You've done your day's work. Now you can put your feet up and enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/the-evening-s-the-best-part-of-the-day-you-ve-done-your-day-s-work/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [We can't love a place or a person if we always have one foot out the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/we-can-t-love-a-place-or-a-person-if-we-always-have-one-foot-out-the/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) > [When I was 3, my parents strapped on a pair of Playskool plastic roller skates to my feet, and that's where the story begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-celski/when-i-was-3-my-parents-strapped-on-a-pair-of-playskool-plastic/) [J. R. Celski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-celski/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [We never think that our mothers will die. It was like suddenly an abyss opened at my feet - I was standing on nothing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/we-never-think-that-our-mothers-will-die-it-was-like-suddenly-an/) [Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/) > [“Always wash you feet last.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-wash-you-feet-last/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My husband really loves my feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayesha-curry/my-husband-really-loves-my-feet/) [Ayesha Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayesha-curry/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [Our duty as Christians is always to keep heaven in our eye and earth under our feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/our-duty-as-christians-is-always-to-keep-heaven-in-our-eye-and-earth/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Griezmann is an exceptional player. He's brimming with talent, and he knows how to keep his feet on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-matuidi/griezmann-is-an-exceptional-player-he-s-brimming-with-talent-and-he/) [Blaise Matuidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-matuidi/) > [I thought that I had no time for faith nor time to pray, then I saw an armless man saying his Rosary with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/i-thought-that-i-had-no-time-for-faith-nor-time-to-pray-then-i-saw-an/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [I could not prove the Years had feet-/Yet confident they run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-could-not-prove-the-years-had-feet-yet-confident-they-run/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) [Browse all 6,557 Feet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feet/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We cannot use jihadists because it's like shooting yourself in the foot.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bashar al-Assad" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/we-cannot-use-jihadists-because-it-s-like-shooting-yourself-in-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Feet" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/we-cannot-use-jihadists-because-it-s-like-shooting-yourself-in-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ada/bashar-al-assad-1027_feet_we-cannot-use-jihadists-because-it-s-lik_2109828.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ada/bashar-al-assad-1027_feet_we-cannot-use-jihadists-because-it-s-lik_2109828.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ada/bashar-al-assad-1027_feet_we-cannot-use-jihadists-because-it-s-lik_2109828.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We cannot use jihadists because it's like shooting yourself in the foot.” — Bashar al-Assad", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bashar al-Assad", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We cannot use jihadists because it's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/we-cannot-use-jihadists-because-it-s-like-shooting-yourself-in-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/we-cannot-use-jihadists-because-it-s-like-shooting-yourself-in-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```