--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's very hard to understand just what…" description: "\"It's very hard to understand just what our strategy is in Syria, frankly, and on Iraq that this is Iraq's war, that the role of the United States is to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/david-ignatius-3910_air_it-s-very-hard-to-understand-just-what-o_90863.png" --- # It's very hard to understand just what our strategy is in… ![“It's very hard to understand just what our strategy is in Syria, frankly, and on Iraq that this is Iraq's war, that the role of the United States is to help Iraq, to arm, train, support, provide air support, but this has to be Iraq's war.” quote by David Ignatius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/david-ignatius-3910_air_it-s-very-hard-to-understand-just-what-o_90863.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/david-ignatius-3910_air_it-s-very-hard-to-understand-just-what-o_90863.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/david-ignatius-3910_air_it-s-very-hard-to-understand-just-what-o_90863.png) > “It's very hard to understand just what our strategy is in Syria, frankly, and on Iraq that this is Iraq's war, that the role of the United States is to help Iraq, to arm, train, support, provide air support, but this has to be Iraq's war.” [David Ignatius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ignatius/) ## 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 admits uncertainty about US strategy in Syria while asserting that Iraq's conflict should be led and supported, not driven, by America. **In simple terms:** US aims to enable Iraqi-led war. Key Takeaway Support, not direct control. Themes foreign policy military strategy US-Middle East relations sovereignty proxy warfare Mood cautious analytical Type statement political commentary When to use this quote - policy briefings - media interviews - diplomatic discussions Key Concepts strategic ambiguity nation-building regional stability Practical Applications - advising policymakers - public communication Questions to Reflect On - How does limiting direct involvement affect outcomes? - What are the risks of labeling a war as 'Iraq's'? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Iraq war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq-war/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Syria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syria/) [Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Before the trip began we mapped out three primary goals: 1) to see and meet with our American troops, and thank them for their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boehner/before-the-trip-began-we-mapped-out-three-primary-goals-1-to-see-and/) [John Boehner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boehner/) > [In the business of war, the role of women is really to maintain normalcy and ensure that there is cultural continuity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-nottage/in-the-business-of-war-the-role-of-women-is-really-to-maintain/) [Lynn Nottage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-nottage/) > [“The usual fiction – that the war would involve precision targeting and the careful avoidance of civilian deaths – was stated by Tony Blair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-curtis/the-usual-fiction-that-the-war-would-involve-precision-targeting-and/) Mark Curtis > [The strategic objective is to help Iraq government succeed.That's the strategic and not only to help the government the reformers in Iraq succeed, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-strategic-objective-is-to-help-iraq-government-succeed-that-s-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Our job is to help Iraq forces be better equipped, to help their police be able to deal with these extremists and to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/our-job-is-to-help-iraq-forces-be-better-equipped-to-help-their/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The end of foreign occupation is one of the pre-requisites if we are to witness any progress in our efforts to help Iraq go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amr-moussa/the-end-of-foreign-occupation-is-one-of-the-pre-requisites-if-we-are/) [Amr Moussa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amr-moussa/) > [When people want to inspire you to turn against some group of people, they'll often use empathy. 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And it's interesting, in a perverse way, to imagine how a jury in 2050 might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ignatius/global-warming-may-be-a-plaintiff-lawyer-s-dream-and-it-s-interesting/) [David Ignatius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ignatius/) > [Fear brings out the best in some people and the worst in others. 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