--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The art of coalition command - whether it…" description: "\"The art of coalition command - whether it is here in Afghanistan, whether it was in Iraq or in Bosnia or in Haiti - is to take the resources you are pr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11f/david-petraeus-11182_afghanistan_the-art-of-coalition-command-whether-it_1761736.jpg" --- # The art of coalition command - whether it is here in… ![“The art of coalition command - whether it is here in Afghanistan, whether it was in Iraq or in Bosnia or in Haiti - is to take the resources you are provided with, understand what the strengths and weaknesses are and to employ them to the best overall effect.” quote by David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11f/david-petraeus-11182_afghanistan_the-art-of-coalition-command-whether-it_1761736.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11f/david-petraeus-11182_afghanistan_the-art-of-coalition-command-whether-it_1761736.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11f/david-petraeus-11182_afghanistan_the-art-of-coalition-command-whether-it_1761736.jpg) > “The art of coalition command - whether it is here in Afghanistan, whether it was in Iraq or in Bosnia or in Haiti - is to take the resources you are provided with, understand what the strengths and weaknesses are and to employ them to the best overall effect.” [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. Effective coalition command means assessing available resources, recognizing strengths and weaknesses, and using them for optimal impact. **In simple terms:** Use resources wisely for best effect. Key Takeaway Align assets with goals. Themes leadership strategy military collaboration Mood analytical pragmatic Type strategic instructional When to use this quote - military planning - humanitarian missions - multinational exercises Key Concepts resource allocation strategic assessment joint operations Questions to Reflect On - How do you prioritize strengths? - What compromises are necessary? A Different Perspective Limited resources can constrain options. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) [Afghanistan Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan-iraq-707978/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Coalition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-coalition-1697918/) [Bosnia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bosnia/) [Coalition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coalition/) [Coalition Command](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coalition-command-1697916/) [Coalitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coalitions/) [Command](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/command/) [Command Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/command-afghanistan-1697917/) [Haiti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haiti/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Resources](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resources/) [Strength and weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength-and-weakness/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) ## Related quotes > [The war being fought in Afghanistan and Iraq is bringing about a fundamental change to the environment that has given rise and power to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-l-thomas/the-war-being-fought-in-afghanistan-and-iraq-is-bringing-about-a/) [Craig L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-l-thomas/) > [I was deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq with British Special Forces Units. I have great respect for the British military and the country as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-was-deployed-in-afghanistan-and-iraq-with-british-special-forces/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [Romania will continue to fulfil its obligations in Afghanistan and Iraq.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/traian-basescu/romania-will-continue-to-fulfil-its-obligations-in-afghanistan-and/) [Traian Basescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/traian-basescu/) > [Governor, the problem is that on a whole range of issues, the Middle East, Afghanistan, Iraq...you've been all over the map.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/governor-the-problem-is-that-on-a-whole-range-of-issues-the-middle/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We did not go to war in Afghanistan or in Iraq to, quote, 'impose democracy.' We went to war in both places because we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wolfowitz/we-did-not-go-to-war-in-afghanistan-or-in-iraq-to-quote-impose/) [Paul Wolfowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wolfowitz/) > [The word 'hero' has been bandied about a lot to refer to anyone killed in Afghanistan or Iraq. But anyone who voluntarily goes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-rall/the-word-hero-has-been-bandied-about-a-lot-to-refer-to-anyone-killed/) [Ted Rall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-rall/) > [Afghanistan and Iraq were lumped together in what was called a 'global war on terrorism.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/afghanistan-and-iraq-were-lumped-together-in-what-was-called-a-global/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Like Afghanistan before it, Iraq is only one theater in a regional war. We were attacked by a network of terrorist organizations supported by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/like-afghanistan-before-it-iraq-is-only-one-theater-in-a-regional-war/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [I think of all the guys that strap a gun on their backs and head to Afghanistan and Iraq to keep us free and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foster-friess/i-think-of-all-the-guys-that-strap-a-gun-on-their-backs-and-head-to/) [Foster Friess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foster-friess/) > [I think indeed our response on counterinsurgency needs to be finely tuned to the needs of Afghanistan. This is not Iraq. We don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/i-think-indeed-our-response-on-counterinsurgency-needs-to-be-finely/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [ I remind you again we had those elections \[in Afghanistan and Iraq\] because we had boots on the ground and we had people that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schoomaker/i-remind-you-again-we-had-those-elections-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/) [Peter Schoomaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schoomaker/) > [The United States has been essentially engaged in an ongoing war that most people date from 2001. That war has taken us to Afghanistan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/the-united-states-has-been-essentially-engaged-in-an-ongoing-war-that/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [ We don't have this huge footprint, we are less likely to be targeted as, you know, occupiers \[in Afghanistan and Iraq\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-don-t-have-this-huge-footprint-we-are-less-likely-to-be-targeted/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Make no mistake, our troops will be in Afghanistan and Iraq for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-costello/make-no-mistake-our-troops-will-be-in-afghanistan-and-iraq-for-a-long/) [Jerry Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-costello/) > [ \[Afghanistan and Iraq\] are still countries that are fragile enough that we're gonna have to partner with them in some way. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/afghanistan-and-iraq-are-still-countries-that-are-fragile-enough-that/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## 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 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": "The art of coalition command - whether it is here in Afghanistan, whether it was in Iraq or in Bosnia or in Haiti - is to take the resources you are provided with, understand what the strengths and weaknesses are and to employ them to the best overall effect.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Petraeus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/the-art-of-coalition-command-whether-it-is-here-in-afghanistan/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afghanistan" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/the-art-of-coalition-command-whether-it-is-here-in-afghanistan/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11f/david-petraeus-11182_afghanistan_the-art-of-coalition-command-whether-it_1761736.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11f/david-petraeus-11182_afghanistan_the-art-of-coalition-command-whether-it_1761736.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11f/david-petraeus-11182_afghanistan_the-art-of-coalition-command-whether-it_1761736.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The art of coalition command - whether it is here in Afghanistan, whether it was in Iraq or in Bosnia or in…” — 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": "The art of coalition command -...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/the-art-of-coalition-command-whether-it-is-here-in-afghanistan/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/the-art-of-coalition-command-whether-it-is-here-in-afghanistan/#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 } } ] } ```