--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We obviously don't want to cause problems…" description: "\"We obviously don't want to cause problems for the Afghan government, President Hamid Karzai and the Afghan people. In fact, we want them to support our..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/david-petraeus-11182_afghan_we-obviously-don-t-want-to-cause-problem_1910850.png" --- # We obviously don't want to cause problems for the Afghan… ![“We obviously don't want to cause problems for the Afghan government, President Hamid Karzai and the Afghan people. In fact, we want them to support our efforts on their behalf and not see us as unwelcome occupiers.” quote by David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/david-petraeus-11182_afghan_we-obviously-don-t-want-to-cause-problem_1910850.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/david-petraeus-11182_afghan_we-obviously-don-t-want-to-cause-problem_1910850.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/david-petraeus-11182_afghan_we-obviously-don-t-want-to-cause-problem_1910850.png) > “We obviously don't want to cause problems for the Afghan government, President Hamid Karzai and the Afghan people. In fact, we want them to support our efforts on their behalf and not see us as unwelcome occupiers.” [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. The speaker emphasizes cooperation with Afghan leadership, seeking partnership rather than occupation. **In simple terms:** Seek partnership, not occupation. Key Takeaway Build trust with Afghan authorities. Themes politics military foreign policy Mood cautious strategic Type political diplomatic When to use this quote - diplomacy - security cooperation - public statements - government relations Key Concepts counterinsurgency nation building Questions to Reflect On - How can foreign forces earn genuine local support? - What risks arise if partnership fails? A Different Perspective Assumes Afghan willingness to cooperate, which may be limited. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) ## Related quotes > [The Afghan government is as corrupt as a prostitute with a law degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/the-afghan-government-is-as-corrupt-as-a-prostitute-with-a-law-degree/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [We've got to see a state where the Afghan government can handle its own day-to-day security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/we-ve-got-to-see-a-state-where-the-afghan-government-can-handle-its/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [Now, al Qaeda's on the run. Afghanistan is no longer a base of operations. The Afghan government is a friendly government that is trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/now-al-qaeda-s-on-the-run-afghanistan-is-no-longer-a-base-of/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [We all hoped in 2001 that we could put in place an Afghan government under President Karzai that would be able to control the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-all-hoped-in-2001-that-we-could-put-in-place-an-afghan-government/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I mean,you will have an Afghan government. There are two roads here. One is obviously a run-off election or a negotiated settlement. But what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/i-mean-you-will-have-an-afghan-government-there-are-two-roads-here/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [But the war on terror as I have repeatedly said in the past, and the Afghan people believe in it, in truth, is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamid-karzai/but-the-war-on-terror-as-i-have-repeatedly-said-in-the-past-and-the/) [Hamid Karzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamid-karzai/) > [As the leader of a country, you are not free to enjoy the luxury of such feelings. The Afghan people want peace, which requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/as-the-leader-of-a-country-you-are-not-free-to-enjoy-the-luxury-of/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [While the Taliban connives with foreign terrorists, the Afghan people suffer from poverty, drought and hunger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-straw/while-the-taliban-connives-with-foreign-terrorists-the-afghan-people/) [Jack Straw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-straw/) > [The majority of the Afghan people support a strategic partnership with the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamid-karzai/the-majority-of-the-afghan-people-support-a-strategic-partnership/) [Hamid Karzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamid-karzai/) > [I'm a believer in the Afghan people, so I support an increase in forces there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-a-mcchrystal/i-m-a-believer-in-the-afghan-people-so-i-support-an-increase-in/) [Stanley A. McChrystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-a-mcchrystal/) > [We want an Afghanistan that is shaped by the dreams of the great Afghan people, not by irrational fears and overreaching ambitions of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/we-want-an-afghanistan-that-is-shaped-by-the-dreams-of-the-great/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Trust is an amazing commodity. The Afghan people often talk to me about having to develop trust in America, because they believe that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-a-mcchrystal/trust-is-an-amazing-commodity-the-afghan-people-often-talk-to-me/) [Stanley A. McChrystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-a-mcchrystal/) > [Once the Afghan people vote and they choose their President with direct, secret ballot from all over the country, there will be a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamid-karzai/once-the-afghan-people-vote-and-they-choose-their-president-with/) [Hamid Karzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamid-karzai/) > [Over the past 30 years, hand grenades, tanks, fighter jets, missiles, helicopters and assault rifles have replaced traditional floral patterns in rug making and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-cole/over-the-past-30-years-hand-grenades-tanks-fighter-jets-missiles/) [Henri Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-cole/) > [If it is terrorism, if it is war on terror, then the Afghan people will join you on terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamid-karzai/if-it-is-terrorism-if-it-is-war-on-terror-then-the-afghan-people-will/) [Hamid Karzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamid-karzai/) ## 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 Afghan quotes > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [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/) > [If it is terrorism, if it is war on terror, then the Afghan people will join you on terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamid-karzai/if-it-is-terrorism-if-it-is-war-on-terror-then-the-afghan-people-will/) [Hamid Karzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamid-karzai/) > [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/) > [Throughout the last century there were multiple attempts at giving Afghan women more autonomy, to change marriage laws, to abolish the practice of bride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/throughout-the-last-century-there-were-multiple-attempts-at-giving/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [Deborah Rodriguez went to Afghanistan to transform her own life and ended up revolutionizing the lives of many of her Afghan sisters. This book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-hamilton/deborah-rodriguez-went-to-afghanistan-to-transform-her-own-life-and/) [Masha Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-hamilton/) > [Mecca and Medinah is a very special place in the hearts of every Muslim but particularly for every Afghan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/mecca-and-medinah-is-a-very-special-place-in-the-hearts-of-every/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [ The president \[Barack Obama\] decided to leave more troops than he had originally planned in Afghanistan. We have a very cooperative government there, with… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/the-president-barack-obama-decided-to-leave-more-troops-than-he-had/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Over the past 30 years, hand grenades, tanks, fighter jets, missiles, helicopters and assault rifles have replaced traditional floral patterns in rug making and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-cole/over-the-past-30-years-hand-grenades-tanks-fighter-jets-missiles/) [Henri Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-cole/) > [We've got to see a state where the Afghan government can handle its own day-to-day security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/we-ve-got-to-see-a-state-where-the-afghan-government-can-handle-its/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [It's going to be really interesting to see what the heroin market does in the next two years or so. One thing you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/it-s-going-to-be-really-interesting-to-see-what-the-heroin-market/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [And across Afghanistan, every single day, Afghan soldiers, Afghan police and ISAF troops are serving shoulder-to-shoulder in some very difficult situations. And our engagement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-allen/and-across-afghanistan-every-single-day-afghan-soldiers-afghan-police/) [John R. Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-allen/) > [Well, the movie isn't bad. For a while, I even told myself I liked it, even as it missed one mark after another. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edelstein/well-the-movie-isn-t-bad-for-a-while-i-even-told-myself-i-liked-it/) [David Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-edelstein/) > [I mean, honestly, we have to be clear that the life for many Afghan women is not that much different than it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-mean-honestly-we-have-to-be-clear-that-the-life-for-many-afghan/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) Browse all 144 Afghan quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We obviously don't want to cause problems for the Afghan government, President Hamid Karzai and the Afghan people. 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