--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In fact, if you look upon the situation…" description: "\"In fact, if you look upon the situation today, there is great division in the world and we have failed to capitalize on that unity to finish the job in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/chris-van-hollen-25753_afghanistan_in-fact-if-you-look-upon-the-situation-t_1636880.jpg" --- # In fact, if you look upon the situation today, there is… ![“In fact, if you look upon the situation today, there is great division in the world and we have failed to capitalize on that unity to finish the job in Afghanistan and against al Qaeda.” quote by Chris Van Hollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/chris-van-hollen-25753_afghanistan_in-fact-if-you-look-upon-the-situation-t_1636880.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/chris-van-hollen-25753_afghanistan_in-fact-if-you-look-upon-the-situation-t_1636880.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/chris-van-hollen-25753_afghanistan_in-fact-if-you-look-upon-the-situation-t_1636880.jpg) > “In fact, if you look upon the situation today, there is great division in the world and we have failed to capitalize on that unity to finish the job in Afghanistan and against al Qaeda.” [Chris Van Hollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-hollen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political division hampers collective action, preventing effective responses to crises like Afghanistan. **In simple terms:** Division stops us from working together. Key Takeaway Seek common ground before acting. Themes politics division policy collaboration Mood concerned hopeful Type political motivational When to use this quote - international diplomacy - legislative negotiations - conflict resolution Key Concepts polarization strategic failure global security Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders bridge deep divides? - What steps can citizens take to foster unity? A Different Perspective Unity can be fragile and requires deliberate effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) [Afghanistan Al](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan-al-533042/) [Against](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/against/) [Al](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/al/) [Capitalize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalize/) [Division](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/division/) [Fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fact/) [Failed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failed/) [Finish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finish/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [In fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/in-fact/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Job Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job-afghanistan-533040/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Qaeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/qaeda/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Situation Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation-today-533041/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Unity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unity/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [Afghanistan is where much of the al Qaeda journey began. It is the main site where Osama bin Laden, Mullah Omar and their cohort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/afghanistan-is-where-much-of-the-al-qaeda-journey-began-it-is-the/) [Jack Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-keane/) > [“Sometimes I think that we should send all of the Killer Mediums to Afghanistan because al-Qaeda wouldn’t stand a chance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rudnick/sometimes-i-think-that-we-should-send-all-of-the-killer-mediums-to/) [Paul Rudnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rudnick/) > [Instead, we did take our eye off the ball. We decided, instead of finishing the job in Afghanistan, to go into Iraq. And today,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-hollen/instead-we-did-take-our-eye-off-the-ball-we-decided-instead-of/) [Chris Van Hollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-hollen/) > [Since Bin Laden's death, many Americans have decided that our job in Afghanistan is done. 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We have managed to stabilize the economy, despite difficulties.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-kabila/what-is-the-situation-today-we-have-a-united-country-we-have-a-single/) [Joseph Kabila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-kabila/) > [I just don't find the quote that merge my situation for today: well it just means that it haven't happened to anyone else, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/i-just-don-t-find-the-quote-that-merge-my-situation-for-today-well-it/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [First of all, I think the situation today is different. We're in a different place than we were in '93, '94.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-reiss/first-of-all-i-think-the-situation-today-is-different-we-re-in-a/) [Mitchell Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-reiss/) > [Mistreatment of al Qaeda members and their friends and hangers-on is something I number among my moral concerns. But it's number 1,000,000,001.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/mistreatment-of-al-qaeda-members-and-their-friends-and-hangers-on-is/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Bin Laden is dead, and most of his friends are dead. But did it need to cost a trillion dollars and two land wars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/bin-laden-is-dead-and-most-of-his-friends-are-dead-but-did-it-need-to/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [That is because the conflict with al Qaeda is not governed by the Geneva Conventions, which applies only to international conflicts between states that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/that-is-because-the-conflict-with-al-qaeda-is-not-governed-by-the/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [And beyond that, the next issue is how do we guarantee one of these weapons, not necessarily this missile, but nuclear weapons ends up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-eagleburger/and-beyond-that-the-next-issue-is-how-do-we-guarantee-one-of-these/) [Lawrence Eagleburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-eagleburger/) > [There are many causes of violent deaths in America - murders and traffic accidents - that we do not approach with the same 'no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-c-blair/there-are-many-causes-of-violent-deaths-in-america-murders-and/) [Dennis C. Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-c-blair/) > [Searches of al Qaeda sites in Afghanistan, undertaken since American-backed forces took control there, are not known to have turned up a significant cache…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/searches-of-al-qaeda-sites-in-afghanistan-undertaken-since-american/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [If the practice is torture for the al Qaeda operative who masterminded the killing of three thousand Americans, why weren't there court-martials in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-a-rodriguez-jr/if-the-practice-is-torture-for-the-al-qaeda-operative-who/) [Jose A. Rodriguez, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-a-rodriguez-jr/) ## More by Chris Van Hollen > [In addition to myself and a number of others, President Clinton talked about the deficit and the debt issue. And he pointed out, really,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-hollen/in-addition-to-myself-and-a-number-of-others-president-clinton-talked/) [Chris Van Hollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-hollen/) > [As we have all said, we understand that electronic surveillance is a vital tool in the war on terror. We all want to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-hollen/as-we-have-all-said-we-understand-that-electronic-surveillance-is-a/) [Chris Van Hollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-hollen/) > [I have been privileged to have the opportunity to work with many of African American fraternal and social organizations that are active in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-hollen/i-have-been-privileged-to-have-the-opportunity-to-work-with-many-of/) [Chris Van Hollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-hollen/) > [It is widely known that the effects of childhood poverty follow children through adolescence and into adulthood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-hollen/it-is-widely-known-that-the-effects-of-childhood-poverty-follow/) [Chris Van Hollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-hollen/) > [We waste an awful lot of energy as a Nation through inefficient use of energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-hollen/we-waste-an-awful-lot-of-energy-as-a-nation-through-inefficient-use/) [Chris Van Hollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-hollen/) > [Every day, families in the United States face the stark choice between a roof over their heads and food on the table. Buying health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-hollen/every-day-families-in-the-united-states-face-the-stark-choice-between/) [Chris Van Hollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-hollen/) > [America stands as a beacon of hope and the possibility of a better life - but it is also a nation where nearly 1…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-hollen/america-stands-as-a-beacon-of-hope-and-the-possibility-of-a-better/) [Chris Van Hollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-hollen/) > [I think America understands that energy security is a very important part of our national security. But if we are going to address energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-hollen/i-think-america-understands-that-energy-security-is-a-very-important/) [Chris Van Hollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-hollen/) > [We must have systems of checks and balances to make sure that those people who are making critical decisions for our country are held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-hollen/we-must-have-systems-of-checks-and-balances-to-make-sure-that-those/) [Chris Van Hollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-hollen/) > [Why would you hand the keys to the car back to the same guys whose policies drove the economy into the ditch and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-hollen/why-would-you-hand-the-keys-to-the-car-back-to-the-same-guys-whose/) [Chris Van Hollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-hollen/) > [It is Basic Management 101 that if you reward failure you are going to get more failure, and if you want success you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-hollen/it-is-basic-management-101-that-if-you-reward-failure-you-are-going/) [Chris Van Hollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-hollen/) > [Although awareness of cancer's prevalence in the United States improves and medical advances in the field abound, pancreatic cancer has largely been absent from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-hollen/although-awareness-of-cancer-s-prevalence-in-the-united-states/) [Chris Van Hollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-hollen/) > [Instead, we did take our eye off the ball. 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But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-hollen/the-confusing-thing-i-thought-was-that-most-of-america-already-knew/) [Chris Van Hollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-hollen/) > [It was stunning actually, because what you would hope for from our national leaders is some reflection, some understanding that the situation that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-hollen/it-was-stunning-actually-because-what-you-would-hope-for-from-our/) [Chris Van Hollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-hollen/) [Explore all 22 Chris Van Hollen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-hollen/) ## More Afghanistan quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [They're criminals, they brutalized Afghanistan, they killed our people, they destroyed our land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamid-karzai/they-re-criminals-they-brutalized-afghanistan-they-killed-our-people/) [Hamid Karzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamid-karzai/) > [In 2001, we were told that the war in Afghanistan was a feminist mission. The marines were liberating Afghan women from the Taliban. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/in-2001-we-were-told-that-the-war-in-afghanistan-was-a-feminist/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [The terrorist attacks of September 11th and the courageous actions of our armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq remind us that friends of tyranny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/the-terrorist-attacks-of-september-11th-and-the-courageous-actions-of/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [According to a recent Harvard study, $6 trillion, when you include the ongoing healthcare expenses for our wounded soldiers, which is the least they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/according-to-a-recent-harvard-study-6-trillion-when-you-include-the/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [You don't bargain with terrorists. You don't appease terrorists. 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Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-p-schneider/) > [Because Iran understands Afghanistan far better than Americans do, making Iran a partner in a long-term effort to transform Afghan agriculture makes sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/because-iran-understands-afghanistan-far-better-than-americans-do/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Thousands of Americans have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq upholding their oaths and defending this nation. Chelsea Manning broke her oath and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/thousands-of-americans-have-given-their-lives-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I have been to Afghanistan many times, even before the Taliban collapsed. I was fascinated by the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-khan/i-have-been-to-afghanistan-many-times-even-before-the-taliban/) [Kabir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-khan/) > [There has been sort of, if you will, a moral interventionism on the part of the United States trying to reshape countries in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/there-has-been-sort-of-if-you-will-a-moral-interventionism-on-the/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The legal system in Afghanistan is very immature and porous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/the-legal-system-in-afghanistan-is-very-immature-and-porous/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) [Browse all 1,159 Afghanistan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In fact, if you look upon the situation today, there is great division in the world and we have failed to capitalize on that unity to finish the job in Afghanistan and against al Qaeda.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chris Van Hollen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-hollen/in-fact-if-you-look-upon-the-situation-today-there-is-great-division/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afghanistan" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-hollen/in-fact-if-you-look-upon-the-situation-today-there-is-great-division/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/chris-van-hollen-25753_afghanistan_in-fact-if-you-look-upon-the-situation-t_1636880.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/chris-van-hollen-25753_afghanistan_in-fact-if-you-look-upon-the-situation-t_1636880.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/chris-van-hollen-25753_afghanistan_in-fact-if-you-look-upon-the-situation-t_1636880.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In fact, if you look upon the situation today, there is great division in the world and we have failed to…” — Chris Van Hollen", "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": "Chris Van Hollen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-hollen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In fact, if you look upon...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-hollen/in-fact-if-you-look-upon-the-situation-today-there-is-great-division/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-hollen/in-fact-if-you-look-upon-the-situation-today-there-is-great-division/#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 } } ] } ```