--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But the central point is that any…" description: "\"But the central point is that any campaign against Iraq, whatever the strategy, cost and risks, is certain to divert us for some indefinite period from..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/brent-scowcroft-11772_campaigns_but-the-central-point-is-that-any-campai_2838474.jpg" --- # But the central point is that any campaign against Iraq… ![“But the central point is that any campaign against Iraq, whatever the strategy, cost and risks, is certain to divert us for some indefinite period from our war on terrorism.” quote by Brent Scowcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/brent-scowcroft-11772_campaigns_but-the-central-point-is-that-any-campai_2838474.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/brent-scowcroft-11772_campaigns_but-the-central-point-is-that-any-campai_2838474.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/brent-scowcroft-11772_campaigns_but-the-central-point-is-that-any-campai_2838474.jpg) > “But the central point is that any campaign against Iraq, whatever the strategy, cost and risks, is certain to divert us for some indefinite period from our war on terrorism.” [Brent Scowcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-scowcroft/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Anti‑Iraq campaigns divert resources and focus from the war on terrorism indefinitely. **In simple terms:** Iraq focus distracts from terrorism fight. Key Takeaway Prioritize core threats. Themes politics strategic planning resource allocation Mood strategic concerned Type analytical policy‑oriented When to use this quote - budgeting - foreign policy - risk assessment Key Concepts military strategy policy trade‑offs national security Questions to Reflect On - How to balance multiple threats? - What criteria decide priority? A Different Perspective Diversion may be unavoidable in complex crises. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Campaigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaigns/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War on terror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-on-terror/) [War on terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-on-terrorism/) ## Related quotes > [The campaign in Iraq illustrates the continuing progress of military technology and tactics, but if there is a single overriding lesson it must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-clark/the-campaign-in-iraq-illustrates-the-continuing-progress-of-military/) [Wesley Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-clark/) > [Bush does not want to go down in history as the president who lost in Iraq. His strategy to the extent he has one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clift/bush-does-not-want-to-go-down-in-history-as-the-president-who-lost-in/) [Eleanor Clift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clift/) > [Beyond the futility of armed force, and ultimately more important, is the fact that war in our time inevitably results in the indiscriminate killing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/beyond-the-futility-of-armed-force-and-ultimately-more-important-is/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [The war on terrorism was a bait and switch operation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-alterman/the-war-on-terrorism-was-a-bait-and-switch-operation/) [Eric Alterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-alterman/) > [The catch-all phrase "the war on terrorism", in all honesty, has no more meaning than if one wants to wage a war against "criminal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/the-catch-all-phrase-the-war-on-terrorism-in-all-honesty-has-no-more/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [How can you have a war on terrorism when war itself is terrorism?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/how-can-you-have-a-war-on-terrorism-when-war-itself-is-terrorism/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [The true credit for our safety and security goes to our men and women who are serving in places like Iraq and Afghanistan in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asa-hutchinson/the-true-credit-for-our-safety-and-security-goes-to-our-men-and-women/) [Asa Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asa-hutchinson/) > [On 9-11, we discovered that we cannot escape from the world. To me personally, this was a life-changing experience, and I realized, as did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/on-9-11-we-discovered-that-we-cannot-escape-from-the-world-to-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We are in a war on terrorism. We need to conduct that war and take it to the terrorists, not here at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-l-thomas/we-are-in-a-war-on-terrorism-we-need-to-conduct-that-war-and-take-it/) [Craig L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-l-thomas/) > [You cannot win a War on Terrorism. It's like having a war on jealousy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/you-cannot-win-a-war-on-terrorism-it-s-like-having-a-war-on-jealousy/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [It is all too evident that our nation, and the governments of other countries, require all the help they can get in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sensenbrenner/it-is-all-too-evident-that-our-nation-and-the-governments-of-other/) [Jim Sensenbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sensenbrenner/) > [I think it's very hard to fight the war on terrorism if we're in retreat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/i-think-it-s-very-hard-to-fight-the-war-on-terrorism-if-we-re-in/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [Those are the things that, in the wrong hands - and certainly in our war on terrorism we also must attack proliferation and those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-shelton/those-are-the-things-that-in-the-wrong-hands-and-certainly-in-our-war/) [Hugh Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-shelton/) > [I share the Presidents commitment to fighting and winning the war on terrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-shelby/i-share-the-presidents-commitment-to-fighting-and-winning-the-war-on/) [Richard Shelby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-shelby/) > [As many critics have pointed, out, terrorism is not an enemy. It is a tactic. Because the United States itself has a long record…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-eldridge-odom/as-many-critics-have-pointed-out-terrorism-is-not-an-enemy-it-is-a/) William Eldridge Odom ## More by Brent Scowcroft > [But, if you believe we should go around the world overturning regimes to make little United States, I don't agree with that, because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-scowcroft/but-if-you-believe-we-should-go-around-the-world-overturning-regimes/) [Brent Scowcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-scowcroft/) > [Saddam's ouster will not necessarily lead to the same result, since Iraq lacks democratic traditions. Democracy doesn't just consist of holding elections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-scowcroft/saddam-s-ouster-will-not-necessarily-lead-to-the-same-result-since/) [Brent Scowcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-scowcroft/) > [Since the days of Peter the Great, Russians have been maybe Europeans who didn't share in the enlightenment and the reformation, or are they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-scowcroft/since-the-days-of-peter-the-great-russians-have-been-maybe-europeans/) [Brent Scowcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-scowcroft/) > [I don't think the Chinese look out at the world and want to overturn the system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-scowcroft/i-don-t-think-the-chinese-look-out-at-the-world-and-want-to-overturn/) [Brent Scowcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-scowcroft/) > [A colossal event is upon us, the birth of a New World Order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-scowcroft/a-colossal-event-is-upon-us-the-birth-of-a-new-world-order/) [Brent Scowcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-scowcroft/) > [It is beyond dispute that Saddam Hussein is a menace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-scowcroft/it-is-beyond-dispute-that-saddam-hussein-is-a-menace/) [Brent Scowcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-scowcroft/) > [Everybody is within reach of a television set. And so they're all politicized, and they're all stimulated, and then they have these desires, pleasures,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-scowcroft/everybody-is-within-reach-of-a-television-set-and-so-they-re-all/) [Brent Scowcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-scowcroft/) > [Saddam is a familiar dictatorial aggressor, with traditional goals for his aggression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-scowcroft/saddam-is-a-familiar-dictatorial-aggressor-with-traditional-goals-for/) [Brent Scowcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-scowcroft/) > [Simply killing everyone who is already a terrorist today won't solve the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-scowcroft/simply-killing-everyone-who-is-already-a-terrorist-today-won-t-solve/) [Brent Scowcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-scowcroft/) > [After the '30s, we said, "no more Munichs." And it got us in a lot of problems. Then we said, "No more Vietnams." Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-scowcroft/after-the-30s-we-said-no-more-munichs-and-it-got-us-in-a-lot-of/) [Brent Scowcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-scowcroft/) > [If Iraq were to descend into chaos, the Europeans would feel the effects just as much as we would.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-scowcroft/if-iraq-were-to-descend-into-chaos-the-europeans-would-feel-the/) [Brent Scowcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-scowcroft/) > [The art of diplomacy is to take an opportunity and turn it into something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-scowcroft/the-art-of-diplomacy-is-to-take-an-opportunity-and-turn-it-into/) [Brent Scowcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-scowcroft/) > [Democracy doesn't just consist of holding elections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-scowcroft/democracy-doesn-t-just-consist-of-holding-elections/) [Brent Scowcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-scowcroft/) > [Many Sunnis, who are still stuck in the Saddam era mindset and believe Iraq belongs to them, are trying to prevent a new country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-scowcroft/many-sunnis-who-are-still-stuck-in-the-saddam-era-mindset-and-believe/) [Brent Scowcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-scowcroft/) > [Much of what we know about mathematics and trade comes from the Arabs. Then came stagnation, and now they're the West's whipping boy. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-scowcroft/much-of-what-we-know-about-mathematics-and-trade-comes-from-the-arabs/) [Brent Scowcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-scowcroft/) [Explore all 58 Brent Scowcroft quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-scowcroft/) ## More Campaigns quotes > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [If you put everything, your heart and soul into a campaign, it might take you a while to come around to the realization that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/if-you-put-everything-your-heart-and-soul-into-a-campaign-it-might/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [MAC allowed me to have complete freedom on the collaborations—from the shades, the look-and-feel, to the campaign visuals. 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