--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The United States has launched airstrikes…" description: "\"The United States has launched airstrikes against ISIS. It's being called 'Operation Approval Ratings.'\" — David Letterman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/david-letterman-378_approval_the-united-states-has-launched-airstrike_2334342.jpg" --- # The United States has launched airstrikes against ISIS… ![“The United States has launched airstrikes against ISIS. It's being called 'Operation Approval Ratings.'” quote by David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/david-letterman-378_approval_the-united-states-has-launched-airstrike_2334342.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/david-letterman-378_approval_the-united-states-has-launched-airstrike_2334342.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/david-letterman-378_approval_the-united-states-has-launched-airstrike_2334342.jpg) > “The United States has launched airstrikes against ISIS. It's being called 'Operation Approval Ratings.'” [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The US is using military action as a political tool to boost domestic approval. **In simple terms:** Military action used for political gain. Key Takeaway Question the motives behind military interventions. Themes politics media military public opinion Mood critical skeptical Type political commentary When to use this quote - election cycles - policy debates - international relations Key Concepts propaganda strategic communication Questions to Reflect On - Is public support the true goal? - How does media framing affect perception? A Different Perspective Such tactics can undermine genuine security objectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) [Approval rating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval-rating/) [Isis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/isis/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) ## Related quotes > [The fight against radical Islamic terrorists and ISIS has been called the war of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolf-blitzer/the-fight-against-radical-islamic-terrorists-and-isis-has-been-called/) [Wolf Blitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolf-blitzer/) > [Face it: a nation that maintains a 72% approval rating on George W. Bush is a nation with a very loose grip on reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/face-it-a-nation-that-maintains-a-72-approval-rating-on-george-w-bush/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [President Obama’s approval ratings are so low now, Kenyans are accusing him of being born in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/president-obama-s-approval-ratings-are-so-low-now-kenyans-are/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [At a time when our country is waging two wars, approval ratings for Congress are at historic lows, unemployment is at a 70-year high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/at-a-time-when-our-country-is-waging-two-wars-approval-ratings-for/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) > [To serve as prime minister while being too mindful of the approval rating is like serving as a prime minister on a roller coaster.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinzo-abe/to-serve-as-prime-minister-while-being-too-mindful-of-the-approval/) [Shinzo Abe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinzo-abe/) > [I think they're more looking at these two candidates. It's a band of voters with which neither candidate has very high approval ratings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burton/i-think-they-re-more-looking-at-these-two-candidates-it-s-a-band-of/) [Bill Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burton/) > [With gridlock the norm, Congress's approval rating is below 10 percent and the public has lost faith in its national leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/with-gridlock-the-norm-congress-s-approval-rating-is-below-10-percent/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [ The president's \[Donald Trump\] approval rating is much higher than the media's approval rating and Congress' approval rating, for that matter. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellyanne-conway/the-president-s-donald-trump-approval-rating-is-much-higher-than-the/) [Kellyanne Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellyanne-conway/) > [Steve Jobs had something like a 90% approval rating from his employees. You hear stories about him being this short-tempered, aggressive person, which he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-kutcher/steve-jobs-had-something-like-a-90-approval-rating-from-his-employees/) [Ashton Kutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-kutcher/) > [President Bush's approval ratings have taken somewhat of a dive. A senior slump, if you will. Leading President Bush to one conclusion: He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/president-bush-s-approval-ratings-have-taken-somewhat-of-a-dive-a/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [The L.A. Times reports that al Qaeda terrorists have been traced to Iran, and President Bush is talking tough. In fact he said he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-l-a-times-reports-that-al-qaeda-terrorists-have-been-traced-to/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [To me, polls are like approval ratings for presidents are like an offensive line, right. And if an offensive line is weak, that means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-dowd/to-me-polls-are-like-approval-ratings-for-presidents-are-like-an/) [Matthew Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-dowd/) > [Barack Obama thinks he's universally loved and adored because of that approval rating, which is a lie or a misrepresentation. It's mainly people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/barack-obama-thinks-he-s-universally-loved-and-adored-because-of-that/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [A critical component of White House Scandal Defense 101 is rallying the partisan base. This keeps approval ratings in territory where the wheels don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barr/a-critical-component-of-white-house-scandal-defense-101-is-rallying/) [Bob Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barr/) > [A year ago, my approval rating was in the 30s, my nominee for the supreme court had just withdrawn, and my vice president had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/a-year-ago-my-approval-rating-was-in-the-30s-my-nominee-for-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## More by David Letterman > [Two things you need to know about taxes. They've extended the deadline to April 18, and when you write your check, just make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/two-things-you-need-to-know-about-taxes-they-ve-extended-the-deadline/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [You know Kim Jong Un, the evil dictator of North Korea? Apparently, a guy in his inner circle used his ashtray while smoking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/you-know-kim-jong-un-the-evil-dictator-of-north-korea-apparently-a/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [It's the first day of spring. That means this weekend I'll take down my Christmas lights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/it-s-the-first-day-of-spring-that-means-this-weekend-i-ll-take-down/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [There are a lot of New York City Thanksgiving traditions. For example, a lot of New Yorkers don't buy the frozen Thanksgiving turkey. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/there-are-a-lot-of-new-york-city-thanksgiving-traditions-for-example/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [I can hardly wait until Donald Trump announces his celebrity cabinet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/i-can-hardly-wait-until-donald-trump-announces-his-celebrity-cabinet/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Experts say this global warming is serious, and they are predicting now that by the year 2050, we will be out of party ice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/experts-say-this-global-warming-is-serious-and-they-are-predicting/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [We make a lot of fun at President Clinton's expense. But this transition is going to be tough because it's been 25 years since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/we-make-a-lot-of-fun-at-president-clinton-s-expense-but-this/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [I'm worried about John Kerry, he's so confident now that he's already planning his White House sex scandal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/i-m-worried-about-john-kerry-he-s-so-confident-now-that-he-s-already/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [“There is no off position on the genius”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/there-is-no-off-position-on-the-genius/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [I vote Democrat because I'm way too irresponsible to own a gun, and I know that my local police are all I need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/i-vote-democrat-because-i-m-way-too-irresponsible-to-own-a-gun-and-i/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Do I think there is a heaven? Uh, yeah I do. Like a really big gymnasium. How do I see myself there? With really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/do-i-think-there-is-a-heaven-uh-yeah-i-do-like-a-really-big-gymnasium/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [If it wasn't for coffee, I'd have no discernible personality at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/if-it-wasn-t-for-coffee-i-d-have-no-discernible-personality-at-all/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Well, we're just a couple of weeks from new President Barack Obama being sworn in. And he's been very busy naming a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/well-we-re-just-a-couple-of-weeks-from-new-president-barack-obama/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Sometimes when you look in his eyes you get the feeling that someone else is driving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/sometimes-when-you-look-in-his-eyes-you-get-the-feeling-that-someone/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Prince William and Kate Middleton are in New York City. We have got to do something about immigration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/prince-william-and-kate-middleton-are-in-new-york-city-we-have-got-to/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) [Explore all 619 David Letterman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) ## More Approval quotes > [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [we need not avoid our active lives, but simply bring to them a new vision and shift of gravity. for in the center we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/we-need-not-avoid-our-active-lives-but-simply-bring-to-them-a-new/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [Lean too much on the approval of people, and it becomes a bed of thorns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tehyi-hsieh/lean-too-much-on-the-approval-of-people-and-it-becomes-a-bed-of-thorns/) [Tehyi Hsieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tehyi-hsieh/) > [But I always reassure them that as far as my contractual rights can go, I will protect them and make sure that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-roach/but-i-always-reassure-them-that-as-far-as-my-contractual-rights-can/) [Jay Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-roach/) > [Growing up in that fashion is a breeding ground for insecurity and doubt; it also leaves you questioning motives. It took me a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-runyon/growing-up-in-that-fashion-is-a-breeding-ground-for-insecurity-and/) [Damon Runyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-runyon/) > [A year ago, my approval rating was in the 30s, my nominee for the supreme court had just withdrawn, and my vice president had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/a-year-ago-my-approval-rating-was-in-the-30s-my-nominee-for-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Approval is a greater motivator than disapproval, but we have to disapprove on occasion when we correct. It’s necessary. I make corrections only after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/approval-is-a-greater-motivator-than-disapproval-but-we-have-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [These days people are mean to people just because they don't like the way they look. No-one should be hated because of their flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/these-days-people-are-mean-to-people-just-because-they-don-t-like-the/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [I got this emptiness inside that got me fighting for approval because I missed out on my daddy saying, Way to Go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/i-got-this-emptiness-inside-that-got-me-fighting-for-approval-because/) [Lecrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [My dad taught me swears when I was a toddler, and I saw, at a really early age, that if I shocked people, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/my-dad-taught-me-swears-when-i-was-a-toddler-and-i-saw-at-a-really/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [If torture is going to be administered as a last resort in the ticking-bomb case, to save enormous numbers of lives, it ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/if-torture-is-going-to-be-administered-as-a-last-resort-in-the/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [Comedy is a very approval-oriented field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/comedy-is-a-very-approval-oriented-field/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [Whenever you are too worried about someone else's approval, that person loses respect for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/whenever-you-are-too-worried-about-someone-else-s-approval-that/) [Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/) > [Pleasure is Nature's test, her sign of approval.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/pleasure-is-nature-s-test-her-sign-of-approval/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Do you really mean the only reason you try to be good is to gain God's approval and reward? That's not morality, that's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/do-you-really-mean-the-only-reason-you-try-to-be-good-is-to-gain-god/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) [Browse all 904 Approval quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The United States has launched airstrikes against ISIS. 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