--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When George W. Bush decided to save the…" description: "\"When George W. Bush decided to save the American position in Iraq by going against the advice of all of his wise men, of Jim Baker and the whole Iraq S..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7c/bret-stephens-3977_administration_when-george-w-bush-decided-to-save-the-a_335346.jpg" --- # When George W. Bush decided to save the American position… ![“When George W. Bush decided to save the American position in Iraq by going against the advice of all of his wise men, of Jim Baker and the whole Iraq Study Group, and 90% of his administration, that was George W. Bush's decision. So we have to bear in mind that this isn't an administration we're…” quote by Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7c/bret-stephens-3977_administration_when-george-w-bush-decided-to-save-the-a_335346.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7c/bret-stephens-3977_administration_when-george-w-bush-decided-to-save-the-a_335346.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7c/bret-stephens-3977_administration_when-george-w-bush-decided-to-save-the-a_335346.jpg) > “When George W. Bush decided to save the American position in Iraq by going against the advice of all of his wise men, of Jim Baker and the whole Iraq Study Group, and 90% of his administration, that was George W. Bush's decision. So we have to bear in mind that this isn't an administration we're electing. It's a person that we are electing.” [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Bush ignored expert advice, risking costly war outcomes. **In simple terms:** Ignoring experts can lead to disaster. Key Takeaway Question counsel before major decisions. Themes politics leadership decisionmaking Mood cautious critical Type political analytical When to use this quote - government deliberations - military strategy - public discourse Key Concepts groupthink overconfidence policyrisk Questions to Reflect On - What evidence was dismissed? - How could dissent be better integrated? A Different Perspective Overreliance on personal judgment may overlook critical data. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Study group](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study-group/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) ## Related quotes > [I fully support President Bush's decision to strike Al Qaeda's terrorist network. 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However, these were things you seemed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-harrington/penelope-did-not-understand-how-this-study-group-was-ever-formed-it/) [Rebecca Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-harrington/) > [“Sophie ignored her and went to take a seat.  The only two open were between Tristan and Jackson.  Lilli had fallen headfirst in like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-long/sophie-ignored-her-and-went-to-take-a-seat-the-only-two-open-were/) Samantha Long > [Every Wednesday, my husband and I have a study group with our friends. I attend church. We try to devote time in the morning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-underwood/every-wednesday-my-husband-and-i-have-a-study-group-with-our-friends/) [Carrie Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-underwood/) > [“Really, Sage? A date?" I sighed. "Yes, Adrian. A date." A real date. Not, like, doing homework together," he added. "I mean like where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/really-sage-a-date-i-sighed-yes-adrian-a-date-a-real-date-not-like-2/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [We had no television, and I only heard the radio when my parents went out to a Bible study group. They liked a quiet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-wright/we-had-no-television-and-i-only-heard-the-radio-when-my-parents-went/) [Lizz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-wright/) ## More by Bret Stephens > [The hater always suffers more than the object of his hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/the-hater-always-suffers-more-than-the-object-of-his-hatred/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [Listen carefully to the global warming alarmists, and the main theme that emerges is that what the developed world needs is a large dose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/listen-carefully-to-the-global-warming-alarmists-and-the-main-theme/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > ['Democratic socialism' is awful as a slogan and catastrophic as a policy. 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Trump to keep us jittery and entertained. He's delivered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/we-elected-donald-j-trump-to-keep-us-jittery-and-entertained-he-s/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [The United States survives so long as at least one of its major parties is politically and intellectually healthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/the-united-states-survives-so-long-as-at-least-one-of-its-major/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [Censoriously asserting one's moral superiority and treating skeptics as imbeciles and deplorables wins few converts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/censoriously-asserting-one-s-moral-superiority-and-treating-skeptics/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [What is absolutely clear is that if Trump is the nominee, Republicans cannot win. 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