Capable Quote by Donald Rumsfeld
“We have an orientation that tends to make us think that everything is our responsibility and that we should be doing this. It is the Iraqis' country, 28 million of them. They are perfectly capable of running that country.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Press briefing, U.S. Department of Defense, 2002
Responsibility for a nation’s governance should rest with its citizens, not external forces, emphasizing local agency over foreign intervention.
In simple terms: Local people should run their own country.
Key Takeaway
Respect and empower local leadership.
Themes
sovereignty
responsibility
foreign policy
local agency
Mood
cautious
critical
thoughtful
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- military occupation
- policy debates
- international aid
Key Concepts
self-determination
nation building
intervention ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can foreign powers support without dominating?
- What are the risks of assuming locals cannot govern?
A Different Perspective
External control can undermine local legitimacy.
![“[The Community's] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it is always upon nothingness that God is pleased to rear His works. If at any day we accomplish some good here, the glory will certainly be His alone, since…” quote by Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2b8/theodore-guerin-54729_accomplish_the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give_7176.jpg)
