--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have argued in the past, and would…" description: "\"I have argued in the past, and would again, if we had been able to pre-empt the attacks of 9/11 would we have done it? And I think absolutely. We have ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f7/dick-cheney-1810_able_i-have-argued-in-the-past-and-would-agai_1856240.jpg" --- # I have argued in the past, and would again, if we had been… ![“I have argued in the past, and would again, if we had been able to pre-empt the attacks of 9/11 would we have done it? And I think absolutely. We have to be prepared now to take the kind of bold action that's being contemplated with respect to Iraq in order to ensure that we don't get hit with a…” quote by Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f7/dick-cheney-1810_able_i-have-argued-in-the-past-and-would-agai_1856240.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f7/dick-cheney-1810_able_i-have-argued-in-the-past-and-would-agai_1856240.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f7/dick-cheney-1810_able_i-have-argued-in-the-past-and-would-agai_1856240.jpg) > “I have argued in the past, and would again, if we had been able to pre-empt the attacks of 9/11 would we have done it? And I think absolutely. We have to be prepared now to take the kind of bold action that's being contemplated with respect to Iraq in order to ensure that we don't get hit with a devastating attack when the terrorists' organization gets married up with a rogue state that's willing to provide it with the kinds of deadly capabilities that Saddam Hussein has developed and used over the years.” [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pre‑emptive action against terrorism is justified to prevent catastrophic attacks, especially when hostile states may aid terrorists. **In simple terms:** Act early to stop terror threats. Key Takeaway Prioritize prevention over reaction. Themes security terrorism pre‑emptive action foreign policy Mood urgent serious Type political strategic When to use this quote - national defense planning - counter‑terrorism strategy - policy debates - military readiness Key Concepts deterrence state sponsorship risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards prevent abuse of pre‑emptive power? - How to balance security with legal norms? A Different Perspective Pre‑emptive strikes can violate international law and provoke retaliation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Action Contemplated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action-contemplated-2470160/) [Attack Terrorists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attack-terrorists-2470159/) [Attacks 11](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attacks-11-1717575/) [Be prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-prepared/) [Bold actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bold-actions/) [Capability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capability/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Hussein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hussein/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Iraq Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq-order-2470162/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Married](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/married/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepared/) [Respect Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-iraq-2470161/) [Rogues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rogues/) [Saddam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saddam/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Terrorist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorist/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [The president has outlined a new strategy for success in Iraq, but in order for this effort to be successful the Iraqi government must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boehner/the-president-has-outlined-a-new-strategy-for-success-in-iraq-but-in/) [John Boehner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boehner/) > [It is true that when there's a drone attack, those - that the - the terrorists are killed, it's true. But 500 and 5,000…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/it-is-true-that-when-there-s-a-drone-attack-those-that-the-the/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [With respect to Iraq, I did favour the continuity of American forces to work with the new Maliki government. They had enormous needs for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/with-respect-to-iraq-i-did-favour-the-continuity-of-american-forces/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The intelligence failures with respect to Iraq were massive and have damaged our credibility around the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/the-intelligence-failures-with-respect-to-iraq-were-massive-and-have/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [ This \[terrorists attacks on 9/11\] was part of nothing. It was a leap into another realm - the realm of crazy abstractions and mythological… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/this-terrorists-attacks-on-9-11-was-part-of-nothing-it-was-a-leap/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [“attacks of 9/11.Acting Deputy Administrator Belger was frustrated to learn later in the morning that the military had not been on the call.188 At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/attacks-of-9-11-acting-deputy-administrator-belger-was-frustrated-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Note that there was no claim for these attacks \[on 9/11\]. There were no demands. There were no statements. It was a silent piece… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/note-that-there-was-no-claim-for-these-attacks-on-9-11-there-were-no/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [I began my work as director of the Arab American Association of New York in the wake of the horrific attacks of 9/11.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-sarsour/i-began-my-work-as-director-of-the-arab-american-association-of-new/) [Linda Sarsour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-sarsour/) > [If the United States had maintained its spending under Ronald Reagan, it is possible that the attacks of 9/11 - presaged by Islamic terror…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/if-the-united-states-had-maintained-its-spending-under-ronald-reagan/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [“The attacks of 9/11 were the biggest surprise in American history, and for the past ten years we haven't stopped being surprised. The war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/the-attacks-of-9-11-were-the-biggest-surprise-in-american-history-and/) [George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/) > [“Those leaders who are conscious of theirs and their organization's values are quick to take bold actions than those who aren't yet attuned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assegid-habtewold/those-leaders-who-are-conscious-of-theirs-and-their-organization-s/) [Assegid Habtewold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assegid-habtewold/) > [With millions of family wage manufacturing jobs lost since 2001, we need an energy bill that takes bold action to tap into American ingenuity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-inslee/with-millions-of-family-wage-manufacturing-jobs-lost-since-2001-we/) [Jay Inslee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-inslee/) > [“Don't hang out with people who are: Ungrateful Unhelpful Unruly Unkindly Unloving Unambitious Unmotivated or make you feel... Uncomfortable”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/don-t-hang-out-with-people-who-are-ungrateful-unhelpful-unruly/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/avoiding-danger-is-no-safer-in-the-long-run-than-exposure/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [The onset of more severe climate impacts overseas may also open up temporary opportunities, or 'policy windows.' 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I guess if I look back on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/in-response-to-the-question-do-you-think-that-you-underestimated-the/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Let us rid ourselves of the fiction that low oil prices are somehow good for the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/let-us-rid-ourselves-of-the-fiction-that-low-oil-prices-are-somehow/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I think we need to significantly reduce the regulatory burden on the private sector. The Obama administration is doing the opposite. They're loading on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-think-we-need-to-significantly-reduce-the-regulatory-burden-on-the/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I'm often asked why I left politics and went to Halliburton and I explain that I reached the point where I was mean-spirited, short-tempered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-m-often-asked-why-i-left-politics-and-went-to-halliburton-and-i/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I do find that the mainstream media oftentimes is what I would consider off base or has a bias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-do-find-that-the-mainstream-media-oftentimes-is-what-i-would/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I'm one of those people who believes that part of the greatness of the United States is our private sector. It's what we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-m-one-of-those-people-who-believes-that-part-of-the-greatness-of/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I believe that we were not as effective in the second term dealing with this issue of nuclear none proliferation as we had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-believe-that-we-were-not-as-effective-in-the-second-term-dealing/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Sarah Palin is an attractive candidate, but based on her background, she only was governor for what, two years. I don't think she passed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/sarah-palin-is-an-attractive-candidate-but-based-on-her-background/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [My own belief is that the way we grow the economy, create jobs, create wealth is in the private sector. 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