--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can think of nothing that Saddam…" description: "\"I can think of nothing that Saddam Hussein can do diplomatically (to avoid war). I think that time is now over. He's had his chance, he has had many ch..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/colin-powell-691_can-do_i-can-think-of-nothing-that-saddam-husse_1276763.jpg" --- # I can think of nothing that Saddam Hussein can do… ![“I can think of nothing that Saddam Hussein can do diplomatically (to avoid war). I think that time is now over. He's had his chance, he has had many chances over the last 12 years and he has blown every one of those chances.” quote by Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/colin-powell-691_can-do_i-can-think-of-nothing-that-saddam-husse_1276763.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/colin-powell-691_can-do_i-can-think-of-nothing-that-saddam-husse_1276763.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/colin-powell-691_can-do_i-can-think-of-nothing-that-saddam-husse_1276763.jpg) > “I can think of nothing that Saddam Hussein can do diplomatically (to avoid war). I think that time is now over. He's had his chance, he has had many chances over the last 12 years and he has blown every one of those chances.” [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) ## 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 argues that diplomatic options with Saddam Hussein are exhausted after repeated failures, implying military action may be necessary. **In simple terms:** Diplomacy has failed with Saddam. Key Takeaway Consider alternatives carefully. Themes politics conflict diplomacy Mood serious analytical Type political historical When to use this quote - government decision‑making - military planning - public debate - historical review Key Concepts international relations war policy analysis Questions to Reflect On - What are the risks of war? - Could new diplomatic avenues exist? A Different Perspective Military action carries high costs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Hussein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hussein/) [Hussein Diplomatically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hussein-diplomatically-4111749/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Saddam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saddam/) [Saddam hussein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saddam-hussein/) [Think Saddam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-saddam-301401/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Is Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-is-now/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-think/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think that Saddam Hussein is deliberately starving his own people. I would think that a man who gets 99 percent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/i-don-t-think-that-saddam-hussein-is-deliberately-starving-his-own/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [The polls demonstrate that 50 percent of Americans who get their news from TV think Saddam Hussein was behind the Twin Towers attack. Man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-polls-demonstrate-that-50-percent-of-americans-who-get-their-news/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Yes, I think lots of people are eager to obtain weapons of mass destruction. But there's no evidence that he (Hussein) has weapons of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/yes-i-think-lots-of-people-are-eager-to-obtain-weapons-of-mass/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [We know that Saddam Hussein is determined to keep his weapons of mass destruction, is determined to make more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-know-that-saddam-hussein-is-determined-to-keep-his-weapons-of-mass/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [ I don't think anyone would disagree with the conclusion that Saddam \[Hussein\] was a terrible dictator. He had gassed his own people and his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/i-don-t-think-anyone-would-disagree-with-the-conclusion-that-saddam/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [There can be no doubt that Saddam Hussein has biological weapons and the capability to rapidly produce more, many more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/there-can-be-no-doubt-that-saddam-hussein-has-biological-weapons-and/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The burden is on Saddam Hussein. And our policy, our national policy - not the UN policy but our national policy - is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-burden-is-on-saddam-hussein-and-our-policy-our-national-policy/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [It remains our policy to change the regime until such time as the regime changes itself. So far, we cannot be sure that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/it-remains-our-policy-to-change-the-regime-until-such-time-as-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The person who will decide whether or not there will be war or peace is Saddam Hussein, and all he has to do is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-person-who-will-decide-whether-or-not-there-will-be-war-or-peace/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [There's no doubt in my mind, though, that the Iraqi people would be better off with a different leader who did not waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/there-s-no-doubt-in-my-mind-though-that-the-iraqi-people-would-be/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [He (Saddam Hussein) has not developed any significant capability with respect to weapons of mass destruction. He is unable to project conventional power against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/he-saddam-hussein-has-not-developed-any-significant-capability-with/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [We now believe it is appropriate for Saddam Hussein to be forced to change, either by the threat of war, and therefore that compels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-now-believe-it-is-appropriate-for-saddam-hussein-to-be-forced-to/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I think all of the attention of the world, to include the attention of the Arab world, should be on Saddam Hussein and whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/i-think-all-of-the-attention-of-the-world-to-include-the-attention-of/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [No one that has ever been in combat ever wants to see war anywhere in the world. It is horrible. It's horrible looking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-shea/no-one-that-has-ever-been-in-combat-ever-wants-to-see-war-anywhere-in/) [Matt Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-shea/) > [ Asked who attacked America on 9/11, \[Sarah Palin\] suggested several times that it was Saddam Hussein. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/asked-who-attacked-america-on-9-11-sarah-palin-suggested-several/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Colin Powell > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error, and from experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/effective-leaders-are-made-not-born-they-learn-from-trial-and-error/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Decision-making is lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/decision-making-is-lonely/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The purposes of the United States should not be doubted. The Security Council resolutions will be enforced - the just demands of peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-purposes-of-the-united-states-should-not-be-doubted-the-security/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I always like to take my time and examine the two candidates, see not only the two candidates but the policies they will bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/i-always-like-to-take-my-time-and-examine-the-two-candidates-see-not/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [We can seldom get our children to do what we tell them, but they almost never fail to imitate us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-can-seldom-get-our-children-to-do-what-we-tell-them-but-they/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [With respect to where we are now, we have a voluntary army. And if we ever go back to conscription I hope that at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/with-respect-to-where-we-are-now-we-have-a-voluntary-army-and-if-we/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Politics is not bean bags. It's serious, tough stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/politics-is-not-bean-bags-it-s-serious-tough-stuff/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [There are no secrets to success: don't waste time looking for them, success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/there-are-no-secrets-to-success-don-t-waste-time-looking-for-them/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [So like any football or basketball coach, you always always believe you're going to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/so-like-any-football-or-basketball-coach-you-always-always-believe/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [We hope that more assistance will be available to the nations of the region, to include Egypt, on the three pillars that I discussed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-hope-that-more-assistance-will-be-available-to-the-nations-of-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [One of the most worrisome things that emerges from the thick intelligence file we have on Iraq's biological weapons is the existence of mobile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/one-of-the-most-worrisome-things-that-emerges-from-the-thick/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Pissing people off doesn't mean you're doing the right things, but doing the right things will almost inevitably piss people off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/pissing-people-off-doesn-t-mean-you-re-doing-the-right-things-but/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-less-you-associate-with-some-people-the-more-your-life-will/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Be careful what you choose: You may get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/be-careful-what-you-choose-you-may-get-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) [Explore all 408 Colin Powell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) ## More Can do quotes > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. 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I only know what I'm told, and I'm not told that much; I have no frame of reference for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-m-not-an-educated-man-i-only-know-what-i-m-told-and-i-m-not-told/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) [Browse all 5,673 Can do quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can think of nothing that Saddam Hussein can do diplomatically (to avoid war). I think that time is now over. 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