--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Involvement in Afghanistan, I thought…" description: "\"Involvement in Afghanistan, I thought, was totally warranted. We were attacked, we attacked back, but after six months of being in Afghanistan, I thoug..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6b/gary-johnson-3710_afghanistan_involvement-in-afghanistan-i-thought-was_2818134.png" --- # Involvement in Afghanistan, I thought, was totally… ![“Involvement in Afghanistan, I thought, was totally warranted. We were attacked, we attacked back, but after six months of being in Afghanistan, I thought we had pretty well effectively wiped out al Qaeda.” quote by Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6b/gary-johnson-3710_afghanistan_involvement-in-afghanistan-i-thought-was_2818134.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6b/gary-johnson-3710_afghanistan_involvement-in-afghanistan-i-thought-was_2818134.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6b/gary-johnson-3710_afghanistan_involvement-in-afghanistan-i-thought-was_2818134.png) > “Involvement in Afghanistan, I thought, was totally warranted. We were attacked, we attacked back, but after six months of being in Afghanistan, I thought we had pretty well effectively wiped out al Qaeda.” [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Initially, involvement in Afghanistan seemed justified as a defensive response, but after months it appeared the enemy was largely eliminated. **In simple terms:** Afghanistan involvement felt justified but seemed to have succeeded quickly. Key Takeaway Reassess long‑term goals. Themes military policy conflict Mood skeptical analytical Type assessment reflection When to use this quote - defense planning - post‑war reconstruction Key Concepts strategic success mission creep Questions to Reflect On - Was the initial justification sufficient? - What are the long‑term implications? A Different Perspective Success may be overstated without sustained effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) [Afghanistan Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan-thought-3568278/) [After](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/after/) [Al](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/al/) [Attacked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attacked/) [Back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Effectively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effectively/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [Involvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involvement/) [Involvement Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involvement-afghanistan-3441924/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Months](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/months/) [Months Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/months-afghanistan-3109139/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Pretty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretty/) [Qaeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/qaeda/) [Six](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/six/) [Six months](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/six-months/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Totally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/totally/) [Well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well/) [Were](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/were/) [Wiped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wiped/) ## Related quotes > [I always get very fit if I'm going away filming for two months in Afghanistan or wherever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-kemp/i-always-get-very-fit-if-i-m-going-away-filming-for-two-months-in/) [Ross Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-kemp/) > [As Iraq erupts in civil war and America again contemplates intervention, that unfinished business should give new urgency to the question of how the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-manning/as-iraq-erupts-in-civil-war-and-america-again-contemplates/) [Chelsea Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-manning/) > [Statistics are just people with the tears wiped off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-rascoff/statistics-are-just-people-with-the-tears-wiped-off/) [Spencer Rascoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-rascoff/) > [One of the happier ironies of recent history is that even as Tibet is being wiped off the map in Tibet itself, here it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/one-of-the-happier-ironies-of-recent-history-is-that-even-as-tibet-is/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [I want to see the U.S. wiped out. Death to the U.S.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-fischer/i-want-to-see-the-u-s-wiped-out-death-to-the-u-s/) [Bobby Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-fischer/) > [“The mess is wiped by the mercy of the Maker.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-mess-is-wiped-by-the-mercy-of-the-maker/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I smashed my tailbone and couldn't sit for five years, and I broke my clavicle because I thought I was a great surfer, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/i-smashed-my-tailbone-and-couldn-t-sit-for-five-years-and-i-broke-my/) [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) > [In truth, it's not the shareholders of the American International Group who benefited most from its bailout; they were mostly wiped out. The great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/in-truth-it-s-not-the-shareholders-of-the-american-international/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [“So many dreams wiped out in one split second”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-linn/so-many-dreams-wiped-out-in-one-split-second/) [A.J Linn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-linn/) > [Until I was on Twitter, trust me: I was completely wiped off everybody's consciousness in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/until-i-was-on-twitter-trust-me-i-was-completely-wiped-off-everybody/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [Statistics are human beings with the tears wiped off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brodeur/statistics-are-human-beings-with-the-tears-wiped-off/) [Paul Brodeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brodeur/) > [“He didn’t just give you a pretty screen saver, ignoring all the viruses, porn and spyware on your hard drive. He wiped the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowder/he-didn-t-just-give-you-a-pretty-screen-saver-ignoring-all-the/) [John Crowder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crowder/) > [“I could tell we were going to get along from the way he wiped his ass—on my tie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-could-tell-we-were-going-to-get-along-from-the-way-he-wiped-his-ass/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [When I was first introduced to CrossFit, I found it to be the hardest workout that I'd ever done. It wiped the floor with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-harper/when-i-was-first-introduced-to-crossfit-i-found-it-to-be-the-hardest/) [Bob Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-harper/) > [“When I wiped you from the book of memory, I did not know I was striking out half my life”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nizar-qabbani/when-i-wiped-you-from-the-book-of-memory-i-did-not-know-i-was/) [Nizar Qabbani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nizar-qabbani/) ## More by Gary Johnson > [As I told the students every time I visited a campus, you are the director of your own movie, and if you aren't enjoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/as-i-told-the-students-every-time-i-visited-a-campus-you-are-the/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [Using a broad brushstroke, I think Libertarian - most of America are socially accepting and fiscally responsible. I'm in that category. I think, broadly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/using-a-broad-brushstroke-i-think-libertarian-most-of-america-are/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [We do live in an environment of crony capitalism, and the main reason we do is that loopholes are for sale, and both parties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/we-do-live-in-an-environment-of-crony-capitalism-and-the-main-reason/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I think that the best that government can do for you and I as individuals is to empower you and I to make decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-think-that-the-best-that-government-can-do-for-you-and-i-as/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I support gay unions. I think the government should get out of the marriage business completely - leave marriages to the churches. And grant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-support-gay-unions-i-think-the-government-should-get-out-of-the/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I just feel abandoned. And I feel, I don't feel represented by the Republican Party. I have always had to defend the social side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-just-feel-abandoned-and-i-feel-i-don-t-feel-represented-by-the/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [Am I not correct in saying that Iran has never voiced that they are developing a nuclear weapon, nor do they have any intention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/am-i-not-correct-in-saying-that-iran-has-never-voiced-that-they-are/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [It is clear from the reaction to our campaign so far that our message is resonating. I look forward to continuing to take this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/it-is-clear-from-the-reaction-to-our-campaign-so-far-that-our-message/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I leave abortion to the woman. I just fundamentally end there. I absolutely support a woman's right to choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-leave-abortion-to-the-woman-i-just-fundamentally-end-there-i/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [Politics is a herd mentality. Politicians don't really lead. Politicians reflect what they think is consensus opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/politics-is-a-herd-mentality-politicians-don-t-really-lead/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [One of the things government should be around for is to deal with catastrophes. It should do that well. To me, that's a government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/one-of-the-things-government-should-be-around-for-is-to-deal-with/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [My issue with campaign finance is 100 percent disclosure. Wear a suit with patches from your big contributors. Depending on the size of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/my-issue-with-campaign-finance-is-100-percent-disclosure-wear-a-suit/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I would say that a wasted vote is voting for anybody you don't believe in. If you believe in the third party, that's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-would-say-that-a-wasted-vote-is-voting-for-anybody-you-don-t/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I'm one of those who believe the bumper sticker: If you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns. The first people who are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-m-one-of-those-who-believe-the-bumper-sticker-if-you-outlaw-guns/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I'm ready for a different America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-m-ready-for-a-different-america/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) [Explore all 123 Gary Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) ## 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": "Involvement in Afghanistan, I thought, was totally warranted. 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