---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The question is, who ought to make that…"
description: "\"The question is, who ought to make that decision? The Congress or the commanders? And as you know, my position is clear -- Im a commander guy.\" — Georg..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/george-w-bush-64_clear_the-question-is-who-ought-to-make-that-d_2577505.jpg"
---

#  The question is, who ought to make that decision? The…

![“The question is, who ought to make that decision? The Congress or the commanders? And as you know, my position is clear -- Im a commander guy.” quote by George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/george-w-bush-64_clear_the-question-is-who-ought-to-make-that-d_2577505.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/george-w-bush-64_clear_the-question-is-who-ought-to-make-that-d_2577505.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/george-w-bush-64_clear_the-question-is-who-ought-to-make-that-d_2577505.jpg)

> “The question is, who ought to make that decision? The Congress or the commanders? And as you know, my position is clear -- Im a commander guy.”

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He asserts that military commanders, not Congress, should decide on war matters.

**In simple terms:** Commanders decide war.

Key Takeaway

Consider balance of civilian‑military authority.

Themes

civil‑military relations decision making authority

Mood

assertive political

Type

political debate

When to use this quote

- policy formulation
- military strategy
- government oversight

Key Concepts

constitutional law political theory

Questions to Reflect On

- Who should have final say on war?
- How to ensure checks and balances?

A Different Perspective

Concentration of power can risk accountability.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Commander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commander/) [Commanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commanders/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Congress Commanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress-commanders-1748679/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-congress-1748678/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/)

## Related quotes

> [The question is who ought to make that decision, the Congress or the commanders? And as you know, my position is clear. I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-question-is-who-ought-to-make-that-decision-the-congress-or-the/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [I'm the President and the Commander-in-Chief. Do it my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-m-the-president-and-the-commander-in-chief-do-it-my-way/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [I'm the commander -- see, I don't need to explain -- I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-m-the-commander-see-i-don-t-need-to-explain-i-do-not-need-to/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [Let us not forget, the financial crisis had its roots in the decision by Congress to embark on a course of social justice to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-royce/let-us-not-forget-the-financial-crisis-had-its-roots-in-the-decision/)

[Ed Royce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-royce/)

> [The Court's decision reflects the philosophy that judges should endure whatever interpretive distortions it takes in order to correct a supposed flaw in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/the-court-s-decision-reflects-the-philosophy-that-judges-should/)

[Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/)

> [So, Wesley Clark is running for president. Pretty amazing guy. Four star general, first in his class at West Point, supreme commander of NATO,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/so-wesley-clark-is-running-for-president-pretty-amazing-guy-four-star/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [The next president of the United States needs to figure one thing out quickly - how to be commander in chief. And I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/the-next-president-of-the-united-states-needs-to-figure-one-thing-out/)

[Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/)

> [Some of you...have never read a Patrick O'Brian novel. I beseech you to start now. Start with Master and Commander, which should be available…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-myers/some-of-you-have-never-read-a-patrick-o-brian-novel-i-beseech-you-to/)

[Kevin Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-myers/)

> [ One of the things I would immediately do \[as Commander in Chief \], in addition to defeating them here at home, is bring back… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/one-of-the-things-i-would-immediately-do-as-commander-in-chief-in/)

[Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/)

> [The president of the United States is the commander in chief, and the people who work with him at the National Security Council are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-hagel/the-president-of-the-united-states-is-the-commander-in-chief-and-the/)

[Chuck Hagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-hagel/)

> [America needs a Commander in Chief, not a Global Community Organizer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cheney/america-needs-a-commander-in-chief-not-a-global-community-organizer/)

[Liz Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cheney/)

> [My first job as commander in chief is to keep the American people safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/my-first-job-as-commander-in-chief-is-to-keep-the-american-people-safe/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/he-who-has-never-learned-to-obey-cannot-be-a-good-commander/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [The commander of the forces of a large State may be carried off, but the will of even a common man cannot be taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-commander-of-the-forces-of-a-large-state-may-be-carried-off-but/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

> [Through my time in the military and my deployments, I have recognized the importance of having a Commander in Chief who will not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/through-my-time-in-the-military-and-my-deployments-i-have-recognized/)

[Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/)

## More by George W. Bush

> [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [I recognize I am essentially a failed human being in the sense that I can't possibly live up to the expectations of an Almighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-recognize-i-am-essentially-a-failed-human-being-in-the-sense-that-i/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete their missions. That's why I went to the Congress last September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-make-sure-our-troops-have-all-that-is-necessary-to-complete/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [You can fool some of the people all the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/you-can-fool-some-of-the-people-all-the-time-and-those-are-the-ones/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [If you take all the food aid, America is by far the most generous country. If you take the direct aid, we're very generous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-you-take-all-the-food-aid-america-is-by-far-the-most-generous/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [The tyrant has fallen, and Iraq is free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-tyrant-has-fallen-and-iraq-is-free/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [“One of our energy strategies is to increase the CAFE standards to 35 miles per hour..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/one-of-our-energy-strategies-is-to-increase-the-cafe-standards-to-35/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [There's a lot that I want to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/there-s-a-lot-that-i-want-to-accomplish/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [If he's - the inference is that somehow he thinks slavery is a - is a noble institution I would - I would strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-he-s-the-inference-is-that-somehow-he-thinks-slavery-is-a-is-a/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [On 9-11, we discovered that we cannot escape from the world. To me personally, this was a life-changing experience, and I realized, as did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/on-9-11-we-discovered-that-we-cannot-escape-from-the-world-to-me/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [As Americans, we want peace - we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-americans-we-want-peace-we-work-and-sacrifice-for-peace-but-there/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the joy of Chanukah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-couldn-t-imagine-somebody-like-osama-bin-laden-understanding-the/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

[Explore all 1,717 George W. Bush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

## More Clear quotes

> [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/)

[Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/)

[Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/)

> [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/)

[Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/)

> [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/)

[Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/)

> [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/)

[Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/)

> [I try to listen to all music with an open head, a clear head, try not to say just because I don't know it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghostface-killah/i-try-to-listen-to-all-music-with-an-open-head-a-clear-head-try-not/)

[Ghostface Killah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghostface-killah/)

> [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/)

[Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/)

> [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/)

[John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/)

> [I've always made it clear that I do not believe that global government is either necessary or feasible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-always-made-it-clear-that-i-do-not-believe-that-global/)

[Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/)

> [The moment it begins to question itself, the mind becomes so clear that it starts working with itself rather than with the body's identification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/the-moment-it-begins-to-question-itself-the-mind-becomes-so-clear/)

[Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/)

> [Alec Wilkinson is a spare, clear, and lucid writer who works in stylistic simplicity with material that is not simple at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/alec-wilkinson-is-a-spare-clear-and-lucid-writer-who-works-in/)

[Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/)

> [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/)

[James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/)

[Browse all 7,410 Clear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The question is, who ought to make that decision? The Congress or the commanders? And as you know, my position is clear -- Im a commander guy.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George W. Bush"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-question-is-who-ought-to-make-that-decision-the-congress-or-the-2/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Clear"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-question-is-who-ought-to-make-that-decision-the-congress-or-the-2/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/george-w-bush-64_clear_the-question-is-who-ought-to-make-that-d_2577505.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/george-w-bush-64_clear_the-question-is-who-ought-to-make-that-d_2577505.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f4/george-w-bush-64_clear_the-question-is-who-ought-to-make-that-d_2577505.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The question is, who ought to make that decision? The Congress or the commanders? And as you know, my…” — George W. Bush",
                "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": "George W. Bush",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The question is, who ought to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-question-is-who-ought-to-make-that-decision-the-congress-or-the-2/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-question-is-who-ought-to-make-that-decision-the-congress-or-the-2/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
