---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It remains our policy to change the…"
description: "\"It remains our policy to change the regime until such time as the regime changes itself. So far, we cannot be sure that he is cooperating or he [Saddam..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/colin-powell-691_acting_it-remains-our-policy-to-change-the-regi_1225620.jpg"
---

#  It remains our policy to change the regime until such time…

![“It remains our policy to change the regime until such time as the regime changes itself. So far, we cannot be sure that he is cooperating or he &#91;Saddam Hussein&#93; is acting in a way that could give us comfort, or should give the international community comfort, that he is giving up his weapons of…” quote by Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/colin-powell-691_acting_it-remains-our-policy-to-change-the-regi_1225620.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/colin-powell-691_acting_it-remains-our-policy-to-change-the-regi_1225620.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/colin-powell-691_acting_it-remains-our-policy-to-change-the-regi_1225620.jpg)

> “It remains our policy to change the regime until such time as the regime changes itself. So far, we cannot be sure that he is cooperating or he \[Saddam Hussein\] is acting in a way that could give us comfort, or should give the international community comfort, that he is giving up his weapons of mass destruction. He continues to give us statements that suggest he is not in possession of weapons of mass destruction when we know he is.”

[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 asserts that policy will keep pressuring a regime until it changes on its own, despite doubts about its cooperation regarding weapons of mass destruction.

**In simple terms:** Policy will keep pressuring until the regime changes itself.

Key Takeaway

Maintain pressure until genuine compliance.

Themes

politics security policy trust weapon proliferation international relations

Mood

cautious serious strategic

Type

political analytical

When to use this quote

- diplomatic negotiations
- UN resolutions
- sanctions enforcement
- intelligence assessments

Key Concepts

deterrence regime change verification confidence building

Questions to Reflect On

- How can pressure be balanced with incentives?
- What evidence is needed to verify compliance?

A Different Perspective

Policy may backfire if pressure leads to further entrenchment.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-up/) [International community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international-community/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Mass destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass-destruction/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Regime change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regime-change/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) [Weapons of mass destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons-of-mass-destruction/)

## Related quotes

> [I can’t on my own change the regime in South Africa or teach the Palestinians to learn to live with the Israelies, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-can-t-on-my-own-change-the-regime-in-south-africa-or-teach-the/)

[River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/)

> [You can't change a regime on the basis of compassion. There's got to be something harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/you-can-t-change-a-regime-on-the-basis-of-compassion-there-s-got-to/)

[Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/)

> [The only way to resolve the North Korean problem is to change the regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/the-only-way-to-resolve-the-north-korean-problem-is-to-change-the/)

[John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/)

> [To move any regime you need to have co-operation and co-ordination between Kurds, Shia Arabs, Sunni Arabs, the people and the army. Until we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/to-move-any-regime-you-need-to-have-co-operation-and-co-ordination/)

[Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/)

> [There is no suggestion of regime change; quite the contrary, this is an initiative to help people and to help governments who are inclined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/there-is-no-suggestion-of-regime-change-quite-the-contrary-this-is-an/)

[Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/)

> [I don't know that there is much the United States can do except work with the international community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/i-don-t-know-that-there-is-much-the-united-states-can-do-except-work/)

[Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/)

> [It is the US government's desire for the Iraqi people to lead themselves, not for any outside power to be the leadership for Iraq…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/it-is-the-us-government-s-desire-for-the-iraqi-people-to-lead/)

[Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/)

> [Creating a better world requires teamwork, partnerships, and collaboration, as we need an entire army of companies to work together to build a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/creating-a-better-world-requires-teamwork-partnerships-and/)

[Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/)

> [Moammar Gadhafi is the man that killed those Americans over Lockerbie, Scotland. Moammar Gadhafi is also the man that bombed that cafe in Berlin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/moammar-gadhafi-is-the-man-that-killed-those-americans-over-lockerbie/)

[Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/)

> [We want in the UK to have a good trading relationship with the EU. I think that's in our interests, I think that's in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-may/we-want-in-the-uk-to-have-a-good-trading-relationship-with-the-eu-i/)

[Theresa May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-may/)

> [In certain circumstances where he experiments in new types of conduct by cooperating with his equals, the child is already an adult. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/in-certain-circumstances-where-he-experiments-in-new-types-of-conduct/)

[Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/)

> [For us, not cooperating in the monopoly regimes of intellectual property rights and patents and biodiversity - saying "no" to patents on life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vandana-shiva/for-us-not-cooperating-in-the-monopoly-regimes-of-intellectual/)

[Vandana Shiva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vandana-shiva/)

> [The Seoul city government has been cooperating with the central government to stabilize the housing market, and we plan to brainstorm all possible ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-won-soon/the-seoul-city-government-has-been-cooperating-with-the-central/)

[Park Won-soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-won-soon/)

> [I heard some good news today, the FBI and the CIA are going to start cooperating. They are going to start working together. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/i-heard-some-good-news-today-the-fbi-and-the-cia-are-going-to-start/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [China has established friendship with many African countries, and is opening itself up to Africa and providing assistance. It is cooperating with African countries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wen-jiabao/china-has-established-friendship-with-many-african-countries-and-is/)

[Wen Jiabao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wen-jiabao/)

## 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 Acting quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/)

[Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/)

> [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/)

[Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/)

> [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/)

[Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/)

> [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/)

[Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/)

> [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/)

[Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/)

> [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/)

[Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/)

> [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/)

[Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/)

> [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/)

[Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/)

> [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/)

Ryan Newman

> [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/)

[Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/)

> [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/)

[Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/)

> [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/)

[Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/)

> [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/)

[Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/)

[Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It remains our policy to change the regime until such time as the regime changes itself. So far, we cannot be sure that he is cooperating or he [Saddam Hussein] is acting in a way that could give us comfort, or should give the international community comfort, that he is giving up his weapons of mass destruction. He continues to give us statements that suggest he is not in possession of weapons of mass destruction when we know he is.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Colin Powell"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/it-remains-our-policy-to-change-the-regime-until-such-time-as-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Acting"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/it-remains-our-policy-to-change-the-regime-until-such-time-as-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/colin-powell-691_acting_it-remains-our-policy-to-change-the-regi_1225620.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/colin-powell-691_acting_it-remains-our-policy-to-change-the-regi_1225620.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/colin-powell-691_acting_it-remains-our-policy-to-change-the-regi_1225620.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It remains our policy to change the regime until such time as the regime changes itself. So far, we cannot…” — Colin Powell",
                "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": "Colin Powell",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It remains our policy to change...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/it-remains-our-policy-to-change-the-regime-until-such-time-as-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/it-remains-our-policy-to-change-the-regime-until-such-time-as-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
