--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let's be clear: Has the U.S. ever made…" description: "\"Let's be clear: Has the U.S. ever made any mistakes? Of course.Is the U.S. at all like [Vladimir] Putin's regime? Not at all.\" — Benjamin E. Sasse" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fd/benjamin-e-sasse-24669_clear_let-s-be-clear-has-the-u-s-ever-made-any_1019573.jpg" --- # Let's be clear: Has the U.S. ever made any mistakes? Of… ![“Let's be clear: Has the U.S. ever made any mistakes? Of course.Is the U.S. at all like [Vladimir] Putin's regime? Not at all.” quote by Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fd/benjamin-e-sasse-24669_clear_let-s-be-clear-has-the-u-s-ever-made-any_1019573.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fd/benjamin-e-sasse-24669_clear_let-s-be-clear-has-the-u-s-ever-made-any_1019573.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fd/benjamin-e-sasse-24669_clear_let-s-be-clear-has-the-u-s-ever-made-any_1019573.jpg) > “Let's be clear: Has the U.S. ever made any mistakes? Of course.Is the U.S. at all like \[Vladimir\] Putin's regime? Not at all.” [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) ## 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 denies any US mistakes and claims it is unlike authoritarian regimes, asserting moral superiority. **In simple terms:** Denies US errors, claims moral high ground. Key Takeaway Question claims of flawless governance. Themes politics nationalism morality Mood critical skeptical Type political controversial When to use this quote - policy debates - international relations - media analysis Key Concepts propaganda historical revisionism Questions to Reflect On - Is it realistic to claim no mistakes? - What evidence contradicts this view? A Different Perspective Oversimplifies complex history. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistakes/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) ## Related quotes > [In my opinion, this vicious circle will be broken by history itself. Because sticking to the current form of governance, which is to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/in-my-opinion-this-vicious-circle-will-be-broken-by-history-itself/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [Getting rid of the Magnitsky Act is one of the top, if not the top, priorities of the Putin regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-browder/getting-rid-of-the-magnitsky-act-is-one-of-the-top-if-not-the-top/) [Bill Browder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-browder/) > [The Russian government doesn't like me; Vladimir Putin doesn't like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-browder/the-russian-government-doesn-t-like-me-vladimir-putin-doesn-t-like-me/) [Bill Browder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-browder/) > [ The U.S. affirms freedom of speech.\[Vladimir\] Putin is no friend of freedom of speech. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/the-u-s-affirms-freedom-of-speech-vladimir-putin-is-no-friend-of/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [Vladimir Putin is leading a dying country. Vladimir Putin's regime exports three things: petroleum products - coal, natural gas, and hydrocarbon energy in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/vladimir-putin-is-leading-a-dying-country-vladimir-putin-s-regime/) [Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/) > [We cannot sit idly by as Chinese government officials act as puppets for Vladimir Putin's regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/we-cannot-sit-idly-by-as-chinese-government-officials-act-as-puppets/) [Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/) > [The United States must look beyond Mr. Putin. His regime may appear imposing, but it is rotting inside. His Russia is not a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/the-united-states-must-look-beyond-mr-putin-his-regime-may-appear/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [ The regime is in trouble economically and can no longer offer anything to its citizens. That's why \[Vladimir\] Putin has to pursue an aggressive… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/the-regime-is-in-trouble-economically-and-can-no-longer-offer/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [You cannot compare any leaders in America to what Vladimir Putin has done. This is a man and a regime that has taken down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/you-cannot-compare-any-leaders-in-america-to-what-vladimir-putin-has/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [ \[Vladimir\] Putin is an enemy of the free press. The U.S. celebrates free press. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/vladimir-putin-is-an-enemy-of-the-free-press-the-u-s-celebrates-free/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [ \[Vladimir\] Putin is an enemy of political dissent. The U.S. celebrates political dissent and the right for people to argue free from violence about… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/vladimir-putin-is-an-enemy-of-political-dissent-the-u-s-celebrates/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [ I don't understand what the president's \[Donald Trump\] position is on Russia. But I can tell you what my position is on Russia: Russia… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/i-don-t-understand-what-the-president-s-donald-trump-position-is-on/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [ By needlessly provoking him \[Vladimir Putin\] and humiliating him, we empower far worse possibilities in Russia. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/by-needlessly-provoking-him-vladimir-putin-and-humiliating-him-we/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Vladimir Putin is a smart guy. I don't like him, smart guy. He is going to advance the cause of Russia until he hits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-kinzinger/vladimir-putin-is-a-smart-guy-i-don-t-like-him-smart-guy-he-is-going/) [Adam Kinzinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-kinzinger/) > [You cannot compare any leaders in our country to what Vladimir Putin has done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/you-cannot-compare-any-leaders-in-our-country-to-what-vladimir-putin/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) ## More by Benjamin E. Sasse > [I think I'm one of five people in the Senate who's never been a politician before. And now that I am a politician, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/i-think-i-m-one-of-five-people-in-the-senate-who-s-never-been-a/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [Once we affirm the goal of trying to make sure that you don't have jihadis infiltrating terrorist flows, we need to make sure we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/once-we-affirm-the-goal-of-trying-to-make-sure-that-you-don-t-have/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [Truth affirms freedom of speech. Putin is no friend of reli - freedom of speech. Putin is an enemy of freedom of religion. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/truth-affirms-freedom-of-speech-putin-is-no-friend-of-reli-freedom-of/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [ The U.S. affirms freedom of speech.\[Vladimir\] Putin is no friend of freedom of speech. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/the-u-s-affirms-freedom-of-speech-vladimir-putin-is-no-friend-of/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [I don't think we do a great job in America any more of distinguishing between campaigns and governance. We live in an environment that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/i-don-t-think-we-do-a-great-job-in-america-any-more-of-distinguishing/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [The president is the president. And every American, regardless of who you voted for, if you voted for Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Donald Duck,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/the-president-is-the-president-and-every-american-regardless-of-who/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [ \[Vladimir\] Putin is an enemy of the free press. The U.S. celebrates free press. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/vladimir-putin-is-an-enemy-of-the-free-press-the-u-s-celebrates-free/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [The real number of the US' obligations, unfunded obligations that we're passing on to our future generates is more like $70 trillion to $75…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/the-real-number-of-the-us-obligations-unfunded-obligations-that-we-re/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [What happens in Senate fight club stays in Senate fight club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/what-happens-in-senate-fight-club-stays-in-senate-fight-club/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [ \[Vladimir\] Putin is an enemy of political dissent. The U.S. celebrates political dissent and the right for people to argue free from violence about… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/vladimir-putin-is-an-enemy-of-political-dissent-the-u-s-celebrates/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [ I don't understand what the president's \[Donald Trump\] position is on Russia. But I can tell you what my position is on Russia: Russia… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/i-don-t-understand-what-the-president-s-donald-trump-position-is-on/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [While Admiral Neffenger is an impressive man, it is naive and dangerous to pretend installing one director can heal what ails TSA, the Department…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/while-admiral-neffenger-is-an-impressive-man-it-is-naive-and/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [People think if they voted for somebody, they should reflexively defend everything they do or say. And if you voted against somebody, you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/people-think-if-they-voted-for-somebody-they-should-reflexively/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [In the American constitutional system of three different branches, conflict - and I mean that peaceful, vigorous debate - it's a feature of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/in-the-american-constitutional-system-of-three-different-branches/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [D.C. is known as Hollywood for ugly people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/d-c-is-known-as-hollywood-for-ugly-people/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) [Explore all 24 Benjamin E. 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Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/) [Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/) > [I try to listen to all music with an open head, a clear head, try not to say just because I don't know it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghostface-killah/i-try-to-listen-to-all-music-with-an-open-head-a-clear-head-try-not/) [Ghostface Killah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghostface-killah/) > [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/) [Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/) > [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. 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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/) Browse all 7,410 Clear quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let's be clear: Has the U.S. ever made any mistakes? Of course.Is the U.S. at all like [Vladimir] Putin's regime? Not at all.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin E. 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