--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: U.K. policy in Libya before and since the…" description: "\"U.K. policy in Libya before and since the intervention of March 2011 was founded on erroneous assumptions and an incomplete understanding of the countr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/796/crispin-blunt-8906_assumptions_u-k-policy-in-libya-before-and-since-the_240457.jpg" --- # U.K. policy in Libya before and since the intervention of… ![“U.K. policy in Libya before and since the intervention of March 2011 was founded on erroneous assumptions and an incomplete understanding of the country and the situation.” quote by Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/796/crispin-blunt-8906_assumptions_u-k-policy-in-libya-before-and-since-the_240457.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/796/crispin-blunt-8906_assumptions_u-k-policy-in-libya-before-and-since-the_240457.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/796/crispin-blunt-8906_assumptions_u-k-policy-in-libya-before-and-since-the_240457.jpg) > “U.K. policy in Libya before and since the intervention of March 2011 was founded on erroneous assumptions and an incomplete understanding of the country and the situation.” [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. U.K. policy in Libya was based on faulty assumptions and limited knowledge, leading to flawed decisions. **In simple terms:** Policy errors stem from bad assumptions. Key Takeaway Ensure thorough understanding before acting. Themes foreign policy misinformation strategic planning Mood cautious critical Type analytical advice When to use this quote - military intervention - diplomatic negotiations - humanitarian aid Key Concepts assumption bias intelligence gaps policy failure Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions were unchecked? - How can future policies avoid similar errors? A Different Perspective Assumptions can be hard to correct once action starts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assumptions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumptions/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Libya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libya/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [Clinton appears to be the sole holdout in the Obama administration in understanding the catastrophe caused by its foreign policy in Libya.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hoekstra/clinton-appears-to-be-the-sole-holdout-in-the-obama-administration-in/) [Pete Hoekstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hoekstra/) > [Erroneous assumptions can be disastrous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/erroneous-assumptions-can-be-disastrous/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Mainstream media's representation, or its guerrilla decontextualization, of black men's lives in particular can set the stage for erroneous assumptions capable of damaging an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/mainstream-media-s-representation-or-its-guerrilla/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [The committee accepts that, as the government response suggests, U.K. policy in Libya was initially driven by a desire to protect civilians. However, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/the-committee-accepts-that-as-the-government-response-suggests-u-k/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [Obama's decision to leave, to not sustain the victory that resulted after eight years of fighting, from 2003 to 2011 in Iraq, was another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-t-flynn/obama-s-decision-to-leave-to-not-sustain-the-victory-that-resulted/) [Michael T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-t-flynn/) > [Mainstream medias representation, or its guerrilla decontextualization, of black mens lives in particular can set the stage for erroneous assumptions capable of damaging an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/mainstream-medias-representation-or-its-guerrilla-decontextualization/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [We don't comment on special forces operations. And if you run an operation for a long time as we have here, and in Libya,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/we-don-t-comment-on-special-forces-operations-and-if-you-run-an/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [Our lack of understanding of the institutional capacity of the country stymied Libya's progress in establishing security on the ground and absorbing financial and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/our-lack-of-understanding-of-the-institutional-capacity-of-the/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In view of the mess left behind by the French and ourselves, we cannot simply leave Libya alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/in-view-of-the-mess-left-behind-by-the-french-and-ourselves-we-cannot/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [Iran, Libya and Syria are irresponsible states, which must be disarmed of weapons of mass destruction, and a successful American move in Iraq as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-sharon/iran-libya-and-syria-are-irresponsible-states-which-must-be-disarmed/) [Ariel Sharon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-sharon/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [I'm going to be specific so you can render your verdict. Let's go to North Africa, she was the chief engineer of the disastrous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/i-m-going-to-be-specific-so-you-can-render-your-verdict-let-s-go-to/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [I mean, you can agree or disagree with Iraq or Afghanistan, but by the way, now the great campaigning cause out there is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-mean-you-can-agree-or-disagree-with-iraq-or-afghanistan-but-by-the/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [We put our fingers in the eyes of those who doubt that Libya is ruled by anyone other than its people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/we-put-our-fingers-in-the-eyes-of-those-who-doubt-that-libya-is-ruled/) [Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/) > [There's more than 1700 emails out of the thirty three thousand Hillary Clinton emails that we've published, just about Libya. It's not that Libya…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/there-s-more-than-1700-emails-out-of-the-thirty-three-thousand/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) ## More by Crispin Blunt > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [We simply do not have time as we move from one meeting to the next to have hours to peruse leisure websites of whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/we-simply-do-not-have-time-as-we-move-from-one-meeting-to-the-next-to/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [The Islamist camp is infused with a righteous indignation, as the forces of old, corrupt and rotten Egypt unite to try and drive them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/the-islamist-camp-is-infused-with-a-righteous-indignation-as-the/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In 2013 I voted against military intervention in Syria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/in-2013-i-voted-against-military-intervention-in-syria/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [We don't comment on special forces operations. And if you run an operation for a long time as we have here, and in Libya,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/we-don-t-comment-on-special-forces-operations-and-if-you-run-an/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [Frankly, everyone knows that Iain Duncan Smith is not making the impact we would all like him to be as our leader and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/frankly-everyone-knows-that-iain-duncan-smith-is-not-making-the/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [We are in this Alice in Wonderland world where parliament has approved a motion saying: 'notes the government will not deploy U.K. troops in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/we-are-in-this-alice-in-wonderland-world-where-parliament-has/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [There may be connections between the nearest prison to Oxford these days, HMP Bullingdon, and other institutions of that name. I have yet to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/there-may-be-connections-between-the-nearest-prison-to-oxford-these/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [The private sector complains that some of the agencies set up to advise and assist them in protecting their networks, such as CESG, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/the-private-sector-complains-that-some-of-the-agencies-set-up-to/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [Turkey is an important strategic partner facing a volatile period. It needs and deserves our support, but that support needs to include our critique…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/turkey-is-an-important-strategic-partner-facing-a-volatile-period-it/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [The coalition government made it clear from the outset that it would proceed with defendant anonymity in rape cases only if the evidence justifying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/the-coalition-government-made-it-clear-from-the-outset-that-it-would/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [I have known Damian Green for over 20 years, since we were elected together in 1997. He stands out among us with the highest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/i-have-known-damian-green-for-over-20-years-since-we-were-elected/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [The requirement for military force is clear when looking at the first of the nine points agreed in Vienna, which states that 'Syria's unity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/the-requirement-for-military-force-is-clear-when-looking-at-the-first/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [There is fear of impoverishment as a narrowly based ideological government, infused with medieval religious rectitude, lays waste to the Egyptian economy, which, given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/there-is-fear-of-impoverishment-as-a-narrowly-based-ideological/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In 2008, Damian Green, then shadow immigration minister, had his parliamentary office raided without a warrant, by the Metropolitan police, after he was implicated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/in-2008-damian-green-then-shadow-immigration-minister-had-his/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) [Explore all 77 Crispin Blunt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) ## More Assumptions quotes > [There was a lot of stress and assumptions made without me even saying anything, which was very upsetting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-stevens/there-was-a-lot-of-stress-and-assumptions-made-without-me-even-saying/) [Craig Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-stevens/) > [When assumptions were made that I was going to bail out there was a little part of my brain that thought 'I am going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-stevens/when-assumptions-were-made-that-i-was-going-to-bail-out-there-was-a/) [Craig Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-stevens/) > [“One should not make more assumptions than are absolutely necessary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-kerner/one-should-not-make-more-assumptions-than-are-absolutely-necessary/) Ian Kerner > [I think facts remove assumptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monty-williams/i-think-facts-remove-assumptions/) [Monty Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monty-williams/) > [“While you judge me by my outward appearance I am silently doing the same to you, even though there's a ninety-percent chance that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/while-you-judge-me-by-my-outward-appearance-i-am-silently-doing-the/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Civilizaton rests on the assumption that the universe is kindly disposed towards mankind and intended for our benefit. Imagine the upheaval were it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lovegrove/civilizaton-rests-on-the-assumption-that-the-universe-is-kindly/) [James Lovegrove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lovegrove/) > [For me, filmmaking is not about making statements but about exposing human behavior so people are eager enough to start thinking on their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/for-me-filmmaking-is-not-about-making-statements-but-about-exposing/) [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) > [“The problem with making assumptions is that we believe they are the truth. We could swear they are real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ruiz/the-problem-with-making-assumptions-is-that-we-believe-they-are-the/) [Miguel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ruiz/) > [People just assume, over the years, that soccer players are not too intelligent. As with most assumptions, they're wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-beckham/people-just-assume-over-the-years-that-soccer-players-are-not-too/) [David Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-beckham/) > [The explanation requiring the fewest assumptions is most likely to be correct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-explanation-requiring-the-fewest-assumptions-is-most-likely-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Words in the head are sticky and social creatures – when you finally pull one out, you're liable to get lots of bits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-carlson/words-in-the-head-are-sticky-and-social-creatures-when-you-finally/) [Greg Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-carlson/) > [“The professor argues against measuring effectiveness in the shallow short-term in the "fierce humanities," for teaching that seeks not merely learning, but unlearning, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-nelson/the-professor-argues-against-measuring-effectiveness-in-the-shallow/) Cary Nelson > [I'm like anyone; I make a lot of my assumptions about actors I don't know from what I read about them. And then I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-strong/i-m-like-anyone-i-make-a-lot-of-my-assumptions-about-actors-i-don-t/) [Mark Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-strong/) > [One thing that irritates me is when people kind of make assumptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-pegg/one-thing-that-irritates-me-is-when-people-kind-of-make-assumptions/) [Simon Pegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-pegg/) > [“To assume is to presume.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-morgan/to-assume-is-to-presume/) [Jude Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-morgan/) [Browse all 393 Assumptions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumptions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "U.K. policy in Libya before and since the intervention of March 2011 was founded on erroneous assumptions and an incomplete understanding of the country and the situation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Crispin Blunt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/u-k-policy-in-libya-before-and-since-the-intervention-of-march-2011/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assumptions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/u-k-policy-in-libya-before-and-since-the-intervention-of-march-2011/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/796/crispin-blunt-8906_assumptions_u-k-policy-in-libya-before-and-since-the_240457.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/796/crispin-blunt-8906_assumptions_u-k-policy-in-libya-before-and-since-the_240457.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/796/crispin-blunt-8906_assumptions_u-k-policy-in-libya-before-and-since-the_240457.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“U.K. policy in Libya before and since the intervention of March 2011 was founded on erroneous assumptions…” — Crispin Blunt", "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": "Crispin Blunt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "U.K. policy in Libya before and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/u-k-policy-in-libya-before-and-since-the-intervention-of-march-2011/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/u-k-policy-in-libya-before-and-since-the-intervention-of-march-2011/#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 } } ] } ```