---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because our homeland and very survival…"
description: "\"Because our homeland and very survival are once more at stake, the American people can't afford to treat this new war against terrorism like they did V..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6d/david-hackworth-25449_american-people_because-our-homeland-and-very-survival-a_1668412.jpg"
---

#  Because our homeland and very survival are once more at…

![“Because our homeland and very survival are once more at stake, the American people can't afford to treat this new war against terrorism like they did Vietnam.” quote by David Hackworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6d/david-hackworth-25449_american-people_because-our-homeland-and-very-survival-a_1668412.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6d/david-hackworth-25449_american-people_because-our-homeland-and-very-survival-a_1668412.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6d/david-hackworth-25449_american-people_because-our-homeland-and-very-survival-a_1668412.jpg)

> “Because our homeland and very survival are once more at stake, the American people can't afford to treat this new war against terrorism like they did Vietnam.”

[David Hackworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hackworth/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The author warns that America cannot repeat Vietnam‑era mistakes in confronting new terrorism threats.

**In simple terms:** America must avoid past Vietnam errors in new war.

Key Takeaway

Learn from past conflicts.

Themes

politics war history

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

strategic historical

When to use this quote

- national security planning
- public discourse
- military training

Key Concepts

strategy policy learning from history

Questions to Reflect On

- How can policymakers apply past lessons?
- What new factors change the approach?

A Different Perspective

Complex geopolitical contexts differ from Vietnam.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Homeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homeland/) [Homeland Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homeland-survival-832878/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Afford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-afford/) [Stakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stakes/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) [Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism/) [Treats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treats/) [Vietnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vietnam/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-terrorism/)

## Related quotes

> [No one ever said that fighting the war against terrorism and defending our homeland would be easy. So let's support our troops, law enforcement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-biggert/no-one-ever-said-that-fighting-the-war-against-terrorism-and/)

[Judy Biggert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-biggert/)

> [With a nation at war against terrorism and our men and women on the front line defending our homeland from abroad, resources need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-miller/with-a-nation-at-war-against-terrorism-and-our-men-and-women-on-the/)

[Jeff Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-miller/)

> [I volunteered 35 years ago to go to Vietnam and the guy I was running against got out of going to Vietnam with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cleland/i-volunteered-35-years-ago-to-go-to-vietnam-and-the-guy-i-was-running/)

[Max Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cleland/)

> [All of Western tradition, from the late bloom of the British Empire right through the early doom of Vietnam, dictates that you do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/all-of-western-tradition-from-the-late-bloom-of-the-british-empire/)

[June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/)

> [The only people who live in Brooklyn are people who can't afford the East Village.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-mcinnes/the-only-people-who-live-in-brooklyn-are-people-who-can-t-afford-the/)

[Gavin McInnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-mcinnes/)

> [Theatre is a mass art form and is not meant to be elite, only for people who can afford the price of an expensive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/theatre-is-a-mass-art-form-and-is-not-meant-to-be-elite-only-for/)

[Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/)

> [Very few people can afford to be poor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/very-few-people-can-afford-to-be-poor/)

[George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/)

> [Well, as you know, there are many things in life that are not fair, that wealthy people can afford and poor people cant. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/well-as-you-know-there-are-many-things-in-life-that-are-not-fair-that/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [People who can't afford their mortgages and have to renegotiate with the bank or something gets repossessed after you worked your whole life. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-gordon/people-who-can-t-afford-their-mortgages-and-have-to-renegotiate-with/)

[Seth Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-gordon/)

> [I'm from the housing projects, where people can't afford $150 shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephon-marbury/i-m-from-the-housing-projects-where-people-can-t-afford-150-shoes/)

[Stephon Marbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephon-marbury/)

> [I definitely think the price of food is going up. We need to figure out ways to manage that in a sustainable way. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-patel/i-definitely-think-the-price-of-food-is-going-up-we-need-to-figure/)

[Raj Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-patel/)

> [“Rich people can´t afford to waste time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/rich-people-can-t-afford-to-waste-time/)

[Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/)

> [I definitely want to help the youth, people who can't afford medicine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/redman/i-definitely-want-to-help-the-youth-people-who-can-t-afford-medicine/)

[Redman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/redman/)

> [There must be a reason why some people can afford to live well. They must have worked for it. I only feel angry when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/there-must-be-a-reason-why-some-people-can-afford-to-live-well-they/)

[Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/)

> [“Promises are perhaps made in haste or out of emotions, that is why people do not afford to keep them”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarif-naaz/promises-are-perhaps-made-in-haste-or-out-of-emotions-that-is-why/)

[Tarif naaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarif-naaz/)

## More by David Hackworth

> [War is the ultimate reality-based horror show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hackworth/war-is-the-ultimate-reality-based-horror-show/)

[David Hackworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hackworth/)

> [Fighting terrorism is not unlike fighting a deadly cancer. It can't be treated just where it's visible - every diseased cell in the body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hackworth/fighting-terrorism-is-not-unlike-fighting-a-deadly-cancer-it-can-t-be/)

[David Hackworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hackworth/)

> [If a policy is wrongheaded, feckless and corrupt, I take it personally and consider it a moral obligation to sound off and not shut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hackworth/if-a-policy-is-wrongheaded-feckless-and-corrupt-i-take-it-personally/)

[David Hackworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hackworth/)

> [We citizens don't need to know every detail of every military operation in this new kind of war. Nor should the media tell us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hackworth/we-citizens-don-t-need-to-know-every-detail-of-every-military/)

[David Hackworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hackworth/)

> [Their plan is to return the entire world - not just the Middle East - to the days of the caliphate and either convert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hackworth/their-plan-is-to-return-the-entire-world-not-just-the-middle-east-to/)

[David Hackworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hackworth/)

> [So it's not a matter of the military lying to the press, but it's the job of the military to deny the press any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hackworth/so-it-s-not-a-matter-of-the-military-lying-to-the-press-but-it-s-the/)

[David Hackworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hackworth/)

> [It's human nature to start taking things for granted again when danger isn't banging loudly on the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hackworth/it-s-human-nature-to-start-taking-things-for-granted-again-when/)

[David Hackworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hackworth/)

> [Of course, it's imperative that we stabilize Iraq and quickly reduce our armed role there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hackworth/of-course-it-s-imperative-that-we-stabilize-iraq-and-quickly-reduce/)

[David Hackworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hackworth/)

> [That's because international Islamic religious fanatics have the same goal as the Axis fascists - the destruction of our way of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hackworth/that-s-because-international-islamic-religious-fanatics-have-the-same/)

[David Hackworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hackworth/)

> [The old saying that war is a racket has taken on an even more shameful meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hackworth/the-old-saying-that-war-is-a-racket-has-taken-on-an-even-more/)

[David Hackworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hackworth/)

> [That's what supporting the troops is really all about - making sure American grunts get the right stuff!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hackworth/that-s-what-supporting-the-troops-is-really-all-about-making-sure/)

[David Hackworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hackworth/)

> [Only a foolish woman would allow her man to earn his living as a moving target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hackworth/only-a-foolish-woman-would-allow-her-man-to-earn-his-living-as-a/)

[David Hackworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hackworth/)

> [Terrorism, too, must be excised wherever it exists, which will take years, and which can't happen without the total commitment and the everyday involvement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hackworth/terrorism-too-must-be-excised-wherever-it-exists-which-will-take/)

[David Hackworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hackworth/)

> [What we need to do is follow the axiom of World War II which was 'Loose Lips Sink Ships' and the media has really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hackworth/what-we-need-to-do-is-follow-the-axiom-of-world-war-ii-which-was/)

[David Hackworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hackworth/)

> [Our generals talk a good game about taking care of their grunts, and the majority of our Beltway politicians bay with moralistic fervor about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hackworth/our-generals-talk-a-good-game-about-taking-care-of-their-grunts-and/)

[David Hackworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hackworth/)

[Explore all 23 David Hackworth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hackworth/)

## More American people quotes

> [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-as-much-as-government-can-do-and-must-do-it-is-ultimately-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Given a choice between two bald political candidates, the American people will vote for the less bald of the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-gold/given-a-choice-between-two-bald-political-candidates-the-american/)

[Victor Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-gold/)

> [When the American people saw the LA riots and crowds of Blacks cheering O.J. Simpson (who was acquitted by the almost all Black jury),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/when-the-american-people-saw-the-la-riots-and-crowds-of-blacks/)

[David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/)

> [In any event, it is one thing to assert, then or now, that the Iraq war was ill-advised. It is quite another to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-silberman/in-any-event-it-is-one-thing-to-assert-then-or-now-that-the-iraq-war/)

[Laurence Silberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-silberman/)

> [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/)

[Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/)

> [I don't know a politician who enjoys fundraising. The system is such that the American people have lost faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-don-t-know-a-politician-who-enjoys-fundraising-the-system-is-such/)

[John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/)

> [Probably the greatest single obstacle to the progress and happiness of the American people lies in the willingness of so many men to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/probably-the-greatest-single-obstacle-to-the-progress-and-happiness/)

[John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/)

> [If a financial institution has business operations in the United States, hires people in the United States, if they are clogged with illiquid assets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/if-a-financial-institution-has-business-operations-in-the-united/)

[Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/)

> [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/)

[Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/)

> [The coronavirus has yet again exposed the strong contrast between President Trump - who is working ardently for the American people - and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-coronavirus-has-yet-again-exposed-the-strong-contrast-between/)

[Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/)

> [The American people demand results, not rhetoric, especially when it comes to national security issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-hayworth/the-american-people-demand-results-not-rhetoric-especially-when-it/)

[J. D. Hayworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-hayworth/)

> [Hillary Clinton truly is sincere, but she has to connect more with the American people in terms of what she believes in and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/hillary-clinton-truly-is-sincere-but-she-has-to-connect-more-with-the/)

[Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/)

> [The American people are incredibly generous and even playful when you open yourself up and feed the media beast until it goes away satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-ball/the-american-people-are-incredibly-generous-and-even-playful-when-you/)

[Krystal Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-ball/)

[Browse all 2,233 American people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Because our homeland and very survival are once more at stake, the American people can't afford to treat this new war against terrorism like they did Vietnam.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Hackworth"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hackworth/because-our-homeland-and-very-survival-are-once-more-at-stake-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "American people"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hackworth/because-our-homeland-and-very-survival-are-once-more-at-stake-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6d/david-hackworth-25449_american-people_because-our-homeland-and-very-survival-a_1668412.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6d/david-hackworth-25449_american-people_because-our-homeland-and-very-survival-a_1668412.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6d/david-hackworth-25449_american-people_because-our-homeland-and-very-survival-a_1668412.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Because our homeland and very survival are once more at stake, the American people can't afford to treat…” — David Hackworth",
                "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": "David Hackworth",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hackworth/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Because our homeland and very survival...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hackworth/because-our-homeland-and-very-survival-are-once-more-at-stake-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hackworth/because-our-homeland-and-very-survival-are-once-more-at-stake-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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
