--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yes, yes: Taking out Saddam Hussein means…" description: "\"Yes, yes: Taking out Saddam Hussein means war, and war is bad for children and other living things. I went to grade school in the 1970s, and I recall t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7b/dan-savage-2880_children_yes-yes-taking-out-saddam-hussein-means_2089013.jpg" --- # Yes, yes: Taking out Saddam Hussein means war, and war is… ![“Yes, yes: Taking out Saddam Hussein means war, and war is bad for children and other living things. I went to grade school in the 1970s, and I recall the poster. But there are times when war is not only a tragic and unavoidable necessity, but also good for children and other living things.” quote by Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7b/dan-savage-2880_children_yes-yes-taking-out-saddam-hussein-means_2089013.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7b/dan-savage-2880_children_yes-yes-taking-out-saddam-hussein-means_2089013.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7b/dan-savage-2880_children_yes-yes-taking-out-saddam-hussein-means_2089013.jpg) > “Yes, yes: Taking out Saddam Hussein means war, and war is bad for children and other living things. I went to grade school in the 1970s, and I recall the poster. But there are times when war is not only a tragic and unavoidable necessity, but also good for children and other living things.” [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. War can cause immense suffering, yet some argue it can also produce unintended benefits for certain groups, highlighting moral complexity. **In simple terms:** War is harmful but sometimes seen as oddly beneficial. Key Takeaway Consider both harm and unexpected outcomes. Themes ethics war children consequences Mood thought‑provoking serious Type ethical political controversial When to use this quote - policy debates - humanitarian aid - education on conflict - environmental impact - family discussions Key Concepts Moral paradox utilitarianism collateral effects Questions to Reflect On - What are the hidden costs of war? - Can any conflict truly be justified for its side effects? A Different Perspective The claim that war benefits children is highly contentious and often ignores long‑term trauma. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Grades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grades/) [Grades in school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grades-in-school/) [Hussein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hussein/) [Hussein Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hussein-means-4120156/) [Living things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-things/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Means War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-war-412386/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Posters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/posters/) [Recalls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recalls/) [Saddam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saddam/) [Saddam hussein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saddam-hussein/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Taking Saddam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-saddam-3352260/) [Tragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragic/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [I think one can easily make a case for taking out Saddam Hussein. 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It means war against your own population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/internal-security-means-something-it-means-war-against-your-own/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If im lucky, i will never have to see you again. Because if i do, that means we are at war, and id have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/if-im-lucky-i-will-never-have-to-see-you-again-because-if-i-do-that/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [How mad it is to summon grim death by means of war!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibullus/how-mad-it-is-to-summon-grim-death-by-means-of-war/) [Tibullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibullus/) > [ Arabs and their allies are conducting a total war against Israel. A total war means a war of lies. The PA \[Palestinian Authority\] promotes… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manfred-gerstenfeld/arabs-and-their-allies-are-conducting-a-total-war-against-israel-a/) [Manfred Gerstenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manfred-gerstenfeld/) > [Right," said Fat Charlie conversationally. "You realize, of course, that this means war." It was the traditional war cry of a rabbit when pushed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/right-said-fat-charlie-conversationally-you-realize-of-course-that/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Of course you realize this means war!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bugs-bunny/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war/) [Bugs Bunny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bugs-bunny/) > ['This Means War' is up there with 'Hail to the King' in terms of crowd reaction and kids chanting for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-shadows/this-means-war-is-up-there-with-hail-to-the-king-in-terms-of-crowd/) [M. Shadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-shadows/) > [There's no question that jihad historically means war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/there-s-no-question-that-jihad-historically-means-war/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [I don't think 'This Means War' is an appropriate picture to do in 3-D.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mcg/i-don-t-think-this-means-war-is-an-appropriate-picture-to-do-in-3-d/) [McG](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mcg/) ## More by Dan Savage > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. 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