---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is a formidable enemy. To dismiss it…"
description: "\"This is a formidable enemy. To dismiss it as a bunch of 'cowards' perpetuating 'senseless acts of violence' is complacent nonsense. People willing to k..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/charles-krauthammer-1232_bunch_this-is-a-formidable-enemy-to-dismiss-it_820145.jpg"
---

#  This is a formidable enemy. To dismiss it as a bunch of…

![“This is a formidable enemy. To dismiss it as a bunch of 'cowards' perpetuating 'senseless acts of violence' is complacent nonsense. People willing to kill thousands of innocents while they kill themselves are not cowards. They are deadly vicious warriors and need to be treated as such.” quote by Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/charles-krauthammer-1232_bunch_this-is-a-formidable-enemy-to-dismiss-it_820145.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/charles-krauthammer-1232_bunch_this-is-a-formidable-enemy-to-dismiss-it_820145.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/charles-krauthammer-1232_bunch_this-is-a-formidable-enemy-to-dismiss-it_820145.jpg)

> “This is a formidable enemy. To dismiss it as a bunch of 'cowards' perpetuating 'senseless acts of violence' is complacent nonsense. People willing to kill thousands of innocents while they kill themselves are not cowards. They are deadly vicious warriors and need to be treated as such.”

[Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-krauthammer/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Violence by mass killers is not cowardice but a calculated, brutal force requiring serious, strategic response.

**In simple terms:** Mass killers are dangerous, not cowardly.

Key Takeaway

Treat them as serious threats.

Themes

violence terrorism morality strategy politics

Mood

serious analytical

Type

political opinion

When to use this quote

- national security planning
- public policy debates
- community safety measures

Key Concepts

psychology of aggression counterterrorism ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- What strategies best deter such violent actors?
- How can societies balance security and civil liberties?

A Different Perspective

Labeling them as cowards may oversimplify complex motives and hinder effective solutions.

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[Bunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bunch/) [Bunch Cowards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bunch-cowards-466937/) [Complacent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complacent/) [Cowards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowards/) [Cowards Deadly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowards-deadly-466938/) [Cowards Perpetuating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowards-perpetuating-466936/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Formidable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formidable/) [Kill Cowards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill-cowards-466935/) [Nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Treated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treated/) [Vicious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vicious/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/)

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