--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think we need to just be very clear…" description: "\"I think we need to just be very clear about what we're trying to do in Afghanistan. Frankly, we're not trying to create the perfect democracy. We're ne..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/david-cameron-1858_afghanistan_i-think-we-need-to-just-be-very-clear-ab_1300940.jpg" --- # I think we need to just be very clear about what we're… ![“I think we need to just be very clear about what we're trying to do in Afghanistan. Frankly, we're not trying to create the perfect democracy. We're never going to create some ideal society. We are simply there for our own national security.” quote by David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/david-cameron-1858_afghanistan_i-think-we-need-to-just-be-very-clear-ab_1300940.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/david-cameron-1858_afghanistan_i-think-we-need-to-just-be-very-clear-ab_1300940.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/david-cameron-1858_afghanistan_i-think-we-need-to-just-be-very-clear-ab_1300940.jpg) > “I think we need to just be very clear about what we're trying to do in Afghanistan. Frankly, we're not trying to create the perfect democracy. We're never going to create some ideal society. We are simply there for our own national security.” [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) ## 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 acknowledges that the mission in Afghanistan is not to build an ideal democracy but to protect national security interests. **In simple terms:** The goal is security, not perfect democracy. Key Takeaway Prioritize realistic security objectives. Themes politics security realism Mood cautious pragmatic Type political strategic When to use this quote - policy planning - military engagement - foreign relations Key Concepts national interest limited aims Questions to Reflect On - What are the ethical limits of foreign intervention? - How should nations balance ideals with security? A Different Perspective Idealistic goals may be unattainable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Ideal society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideal-society/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [National security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-security/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) ## Related quotes > [I mean, the United States has had an eighteen-year military commitment in Afghanistan, and frankly, I can't think of any country other than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/i-mean-the-united-states-has-had-an-eighteen-year-military-commitment/) [Subrahmanyam Jaishankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/) > [I'm not a college graduate, but I don't know how George W.Bush could have truly believed that the flower of democracy was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/i-m-not-a-college-graduate-but-i-don-t-know-how-george-w-bush-could/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) > [The Sandinistas are dedicated Communists, and if they are going to make a compromise with democracy, it's going to be under pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/the-sandinistas-are-dedicated-communists-and-if-they-are-going-to/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [All the more reason we need to stand up for our democracy now. If we're going to solve the crises that are barreling down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/all-the-more-reason-we-need-to-stand-up-for-our-democracy-now-if-we/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [If you know anything about Islamic civilization, or about the contemporary Middle East, about the sociology and the anthropology of the people who live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-helprin/if-you-know-anything-about-islamic-civilization-or-about-the/) [Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-helprin/) > [Democracy is now going forth on a crusade against imperialism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-babbitt/democracy-is-now-going-forth-on-a-crusade-against-imperialism/) [Irving Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-babbitt/) > [Democracy requires common ground on which all can stand, but that ground is sinking beneath our feet, and democracy may be going down the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/democracy-requires-common-ground-on-which-all-can-stand-but-that/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [If we're going to preach about democracy we're going to have to make difficult decisions. We're not going to sell our values out for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-delahunt/if-we-re-going-to-preach-about-democracy-we-re-going-to-have-to-make/) [Bill Delahunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-delahunt/) > [We have unleashed aspirations of youngsters. Democracy is not going to go backwards. India is too big a country to be run by one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-gandhi/we-have-unleashed-aspirations-of-youngsters-democracy-is-not-going-to/) [Rahul Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-gandhi/) > [We've seen a lot of dirty politics in Ireland. We know from the French, their wonderfully neurotic presidents, that our hands are sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciaran-hinds/we-ve-seen-a-lot-of-dirty-politics-in-ireland-we-know-from-the-french/) [Ciaran Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciaran-hinds/) > [You can't keep a democracy going in a functional and constructive way if only 10 percent of the people you represent think your institution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sarbanes/you-can-t-keep-a-democracy-going-in-a-functional-and-constructive-way/) [John Sarbanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sarbanes/) > [I'll do anything to try to prevent John Bolton from getting any position, because I think his world view is naive. He believes we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-ll-do-anything-to-try-to-prevent-john-bolton-from-getting-any/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We're not going back anywhere, we're going forward, we're going forward in democracy, we're going forward in participation, we're going forward with ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-corbyn/we-re-not-going-back-anywhere-we-re-going-forward-we-re-going-forward/) [Jeremy Corbyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-corbyn/) > [We cannot set up, out of our heads, something we regard as an ideal society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/we-cannot-set-up-out-of-our-heads-something-we-regard-as-an-ideal/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [This present system by which industry is motivated exclusively by the quest for maximal profits - though it may have helped a great deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/this-present-system-by-which-industry-is-motivated-exclusively-by-the/) [Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/) ## More by David Cameron > [Humanitarian goods and people must flow in both directions. Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/humanitarian-goods-and-people-must-flow-in-both-directions-gaza/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [I think it true that, you know, sometimes things start to change even before a government changes and, actually, I think you can begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-think-it-true-that-you-know-sometimes-things-start-to-change-even/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [Normally when people say they haven't decided, they're being polite but they're definitely not voting for you. I think it's different this time. People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/normally-when-people-say-they-haven-t-decided-they-re-being-polite/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [There is not, in my view, a single European demos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/there-is-not-in-my-view-a-single-european-demos/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [Conservatives believe in the ties that bind us. Society is stronger when we make vows to each other and we support each other. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/conservatives-believe-in-the-ties-that-bind-us-society-is-stronger/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [The murders in Paris are sickening, we stand with the French people in the fight against terror and defending the freedom of the press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/the-murders-in-paris-are-sickening-we-stand-with-the-french-people-in/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [I have a very clear view, which is that if you disagree with the policies of Israel, fine, say so, but that is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-have-a-very-clear-view-which-is-that-if-you-disagree-with-the/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [As far as I am concerned this referendum should settle the matter. I believe it will one way or another be decisive. Britain will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/as-far-as-i-am-concerned-this-referendum-should-settle-the-matter-i/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [We will reflect the country we aspire to govern, and the sound of modern Britain's is a complex harmony, not a male voice choir.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/we-will-reflect-the-country-we-aspire-to-govern-and-the-sound-of/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [I've said I'll stand for a full second term, but I think after that it will be time for new leadership. Terms are like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-ve-said-i-ll-stand-for-a-full-second-term-but-i-think-after-that-it/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [Simply asking the British people to carry on accepting a European settlement over which they have had little choice is a path to ensuring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/simply-asking-the-british-people-to-carry-on-accepting-a-european/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [All those countries who keep their aid promises should be proud of what they've done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/all-those-countries-who-keep-their-aid-promises-should-be-proud-of/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [Easter is all about remembering the importance of change, responsibility, and doing the right thing for the good of our children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/easter-is-all-about-remembering-the-importance-of-change/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [I like democracy. I like to be able to throw out my political leaders when they get things wrong, and we don't get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-like-democracy-i-like-to-be-able-to-throw-out-my-political-leaders/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [The EU must be able to act with the speed and flexibility of a network, not the cumbersome rigidity of a bloc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/the-eu-must-be-able-to-act-with-the-speed-and-flexibility-of-a/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) [Explore all 203 David Cameron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) ## 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. And anybody who believes that this is about something we've done has to ask themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/you-don-t-bargain-with-terrorists-you-don-t-appease-terrorists-and/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [“I stood with my mom in the cemetery. She felt terrible pain. My grandmother is with God. My mom has to continue living. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-elliot/i-stood-with-my-mom-in-the-cemetery-she-felt-terrible-pain-my/) [Tucker Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-elliot/) > [The most successful cultural diplomacy strategy integrates people-to-people or arts/culture/media-to-people interactions into the basic business of diplomacy. The programs in Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-p-schneider/the-most-successful-cultural-diplomacy-strategy-integrates-people-to/) [Cynthia P. 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": "I think we need to just be very clear about what we're trying to do in Afghanistan. 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