---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ISIS is on its way to defeat but…"
description: "\"ISIS is on its way to defeat but terrorism threat persists.\" — David Petraeus"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bb/david-petraeus-11182_defeat_isis-is-on-its-way-to-defeat-but-terrori_2009051.png"
---

#  ISIS is on its way to defeat but terrorism threat persists.

![“ISIS is on its way to defeat but terrorism threat persists.” quote by David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bb/david-petraeus-11182_defeat_isis-is-on-its-way-to-defeat-but-terrori_2009051.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bb/david-petraeus-11182_defeat_isis-is-on-its-way-to-defeat-but-terrori_2009051.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bb/david-petraeus-11182_defeat_isis-is-on-its-way-to-defeat-but-terrori_2009051.png)

> “ISIS is on its way to defeat but terrorism threat persists.”

[David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/)

## About This Quote

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

Even with successes, the danger of terrorism remains and requires ongoing vigilance.

**In simple terms:** Successes don’t end the threat.

Key Takeaway

Stay vigilant and adaptable.

Themes

security terrorism policy resilience

Mood

cautious determined

Type

strategic analytical

When to use this quote

- Military planning
- intelligence analysis
- public policy
- community safety

Key Concepts

Geopolitics counterterrorism strategy risk assessment

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we balance optimism with realistic threat assessment?
- What measures keep vigilance alive after successes?

A Different Perspective

Even victories can breed complacency, undermining preparedness.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [Defeat Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat-terrorism-612729/) [Isis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/isis/) [Isis Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/isis-way-3577136/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Persist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persist/) [Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism/) [Terrorism Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism-threat-263953/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) [Threat Persists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat-persists-3577135/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/)

## Related quotes

> [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/)

[George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/)

> [ I also think that we \[Americans\] are operating out of fear in our country. It's not that terrorism is not a threat, but it's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-scahill/i-also-think-that-we-americans-are-operating-out-of-fear-in-our/)

[Jeremy Scahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-scahill/)

> [Bio-terrorism is a threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-fauci/bio-terrorism-is-a-threat/)

[Anthony Fauci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-fauci/)

> [Terrorism threat is serious, and not just to American interests. The assaults in Russia against two airliners, bringing them out of the sky, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/terrorism-threat-is-serious-and-not-just-to-american-interests-the/)

[Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/)

> [It's not only America. Terrorism now is a threat to the whole world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/it-s-not-only-america-terrorism-now-is-a-threat-to-the-whole-world/)

[Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/)

> [The FBI assesses HVEs are the greatest terrorism threat to the homeland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/the-fbi-assesses-hves-are-the-greatest-terrorism-threat-to-the/)

[Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/)

> [The enemy is not just terrorism. It is the threat posed specifically by Islamist terrorism, by Bin Ladin and others who draw on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/the-enemy-is-not-just-terrorism-it-is-the-threat-posed-specifically/)

[John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/)

> [We remain united with the British, and our allies around the world, in our resolve to defeat terrorism and bring those who commit these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/we-remain-united-with-the-british-and-our-allies-around-the-world-in/)

[Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/)

> [ \[Marco\] Rubio says we should collect all Americans' records all of the time. The Constitution says otherwise. I think they're both wrong. I think… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/marco-rubio-says-we-should-collect-all-americans-records-all-of-the/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [While we must remain determined to defeat terrorism, it isn't only terrorism we are fighting. It's the beliefs that motivate terrorists. A new ideology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senator-john-kerry/while-we-must-remain-determined-to-defeat-terrorism-it-isn-t-only/)

[Senator John Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senator-john-kerry/)

> [Enough of this occupation, terror and abuse. We are not in need of your help. We are able to combat and defeat terrorism, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muqtada-al-sadr/enough-of-this-occupation-terror-and-abuse-we-are-not-in-need-of-your/)

[Muqtada al Sadr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muqtada-al-sadr/)

> [Those who committed these cowardly acts may believe that they have shaken our resolve to defeat terrorism. They could not be more wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/those-who-committed-these-cowardly-acts-may-believe-that-they-have/)

[Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/)

> [To defeat terrorism, we must acknowledge that we are all human beings. It is not our choice to belong to a particular race or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fethullah-gulen/to-defeat-terrorism-we-must-acknowledge-that-we-are-all-human-beings/)

[Fethullah Gulen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fethullah-gulen/)

> [All Iraqis can unite to defeat terrorism and can unite to rebuild the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-chalabi/all-iraqis-can-unite-to-defeat-terrorism-and-can-unite-to-rebuild-the/)

[Ahmed Chalabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-chalabi/)

> [I think we defeat terrorism by showing them that we do not fear them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-we-defeat-terrorism-by-showing-them-that-we-do-not-fear-them/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

## More by David Petraeus

> [ There \[in Afghanistan\] is also a growing insurgency threat from al-Qaida, the Taliban and other extremist elements, some of which comes from the tribal… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/there-in-afghanistan-is-also-a-growing-insurgency-threat-from-al/)

[David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/)

> [The job of the leader is to get the big ideas right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/the-job-of-the-leader-is-to-get-the-big-ideas-right/)

[David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/)

> [Over the last few years they have done a superb job in their fight against al-Qaida. As you may recall, our embassy in Jedda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/over-the-last-few-years-they-have-done-a-superb-job-in-their-fight/)

[David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/)

> [After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/after-being-married-for-over-37-years-i-showed-extremely-poor/)

[David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/)

> [Money can be a very important form of "ammunition," although we should never forget that when you're being shot at the most important ammunition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/money-can-be-a-very-important-form-of-ammunition-although-we-should/)

[David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/)

> [The president and I sat down in the Oval Office, and he expressed very clearly that what he wants from me is my best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/the-president-and-i-sat-down-in-the-oval-office-and-he-expressed-very/)

[David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/)

> [Don't forget Yemen, where there are also extremist elements, as we saw recently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/don-t-forget-yemen-where-there-are-also-extremist-elements-as-we-saw/)

[David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/)

> [If you look at casualties, you find countries that had much higher loss rates per capita than the US. Denmark comes to mind, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/if-you-look-at-casualties-you-find-countries-that-had-much-higher/)

[David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/)

> [I will not ever run for political office. I can assure you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/i-will-not-ever-run-for-political-office-i-can-assure-you/)

[David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/)

> [Political progress will only take place if sufficient security exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/political-progress-will-only-take-place-if-sufficient-security-exists/)

[David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/)

> [Even the Interior Ministry in Riyadh was hit. Since then, the Saudis have employed a very intelligent and comprehensive approach to counter al-Qaida, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/even-the-interior-ministry-in-riyadh-was-hit-since-then-the-saudis/)

[David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/)

> [In Afghanistan you are not rebuilding, you are building. There is very limited infrastructure and extreme terrain, with deserts in the south and mountains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/in-afghanistan-you-are-not-rebuilding-you-are-building-there-is-very/)

[David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/)

> [“We have relearned since 9/11 the timeless lesson that we don’t always get to fight the wars for which we’re most prepared or most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/we-have-relearned-since-9-11-the-timeless-lesson-that-we-don-t-always/)

[David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/)

> [Iran, as we have already discussed, has carried out very, very harmful activities inside Iraq. Funding, trainings, arming and, in some cases, even directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/iran-as-we-have-already-discussed-has-carried-out-very-very-harmful/)

[David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/)

> [This is actually true of the overall fight against al-Qaeda and trans-national extremists, that as you put pressure on them in one location, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/this-is-actually-true-of-the-overall-fight-against-al-qaeda-and-trans/)

[David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/)

[Explore all 61 David Petraeus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/)

## More Defeat quotes

> [A poor self-image is the magnifying glass that can transform a trivial mistake or an imperfection into an overwhelming symbol of personal defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/a-poor-self-image-is-the-magnifying-glass-that-can-transform-a/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt. That's morality, that's religion. That's art. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/even-though-you-can-t-expect-to-defeat-the-absurdity-of-the-world-you/)

[Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/)

> [The devil has been defeated, stop trying to defeat him. What we have left is the fight of faith, and it's a good fight!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-oyakhilome/the-devil-has-been-defeated-stop-trying-to-defeat-him-what-we-have/)

[Chris Oyakhilome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-oyakhilome/)

> [If Pete’s (Sampras) child is a girl, my son will like her; if he’s a boy, my son will defeat him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/if-pete-s-sampras-child-is-a-girl-my-son-will-like-her-if-he-s-a-boy/)

[Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/)

> [All our efforts to defeat poverty and pursue sustainable development will be in vain if environmental degradation and natural resource depletion continue unabated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/all-our-efforts-to-defeat-poverty-and-pursue-sustainable-development/)

[Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/)

> [Defeat furnishes good material to the poets and the artists, but none of us care to have the glory of the conquered apply to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-glaspell/defeat-furnishes-good-material-to-the-poets-and-the-artists-but-none/)

[Susan Glaspell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-glaspell/)

> [“We don't have to defeat any individual but our own self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/we-don-t-have-to-defeat-any-individual-but-our-own-self/)

[Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/)

> [“Defeat is a disease, and victory is the cure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/defeat-is-a-disease-and-victory-is-the-cure/)

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

> [“The glow of victory and the harsh chill of defeat are two sides of the same coin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-lenartowicz/the-glow-of-victory-and-the-harsh-chill-of-defeat-are-two-sides-of/)

[Maria Lenartowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-lenartowicz/)

> [After a big defeat, any player feels affected - it is about how long he needs to recover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerardo-martino/after-a-big-defeat-any-player-feels-affected-it-is-about-how-long-he/)

[Gerardo Martino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerardo-martino/)

> [I have clearly said we faced terrorist enemies who use Islam to justify slaughtering innocent people and we have to stop them and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-have-clearly-said-we-faced-terrorist-enemies-who-use-islam-to/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gichin-funakoshi/the-ultimate-aim-of-karate-lies-not-in-victory-or-defeat-but-in-the/)

[Gichin Funakoshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gichin-funakoshi/)

> [It has never been more critical that a leader step forward to accelerate our understanding of cancer - and champion the effort to finally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-dzau/it-has-never-been-more-critical-that-a-leader-step-forward-to/)

[Victor J. Dzau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-dzau/)

> [“It would seem no matter how progressive we get there are always those few who are backwards in their ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solange-nicole/it-would-seem-no-matter-how-progressive-we-get-there-are-always-those/)

[Solange nicole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solange-nicole/)

[Browse all 2,603 Defeat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "ISIS is on its way to defeat but terrorism threat persists.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Petraeus"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/isis-is-on-its-way-to-defeat-but-terrorism-threat-persists/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Defeat"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/isis-is-on-its-way-to-defeat-but-terrorism-threat-persists/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bb/david-petraeus-11182_defeat_isis-is-on-its-way-to-defeat-but-terrori_2009051.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bb/david-petraeus-11182_defeat_isis-is-on-its-way-to-defeat-but-terrori_2009051.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bb/david-petraeus-11182_defeat_isis-is-on-its-way-to-defeat-but-terrori_2009051.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“ISIS is on its way to defeat but terrorism threat persists.” — David Petraeus",
                "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 Petraeus",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "ISIS is on its way to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/isis-is-on-its-way-to-defeat-but-terrorism-threat-persists/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/isis-is-on-its-way-to-defeat-but-terrorism-threat-persists/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
