--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whatever one thinks of the justifiability…" description: "\"Whatever one thinks of the justifiability of drone attacks, it's one of the least 'brave' or courageous modes of warfare ever invented. It's one thing ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/218/glenn-greenwald-1215_attacks_whatever-one-thinks-of-the-justifiabilit_2397684.jpg" --- # Whatever one thinks of the justifiability of drone… ![“Whatever one thinks of the justifiability of drone attacks, it's one of the least 'brave' or courageous modes of warfare ever invented. It's one thing to call it just, but to pretend it's 'brave' is Orwellian in the extreme.” quote by Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/218/glenn-greenwald-1215_attacks_whatever-one-thinks-of-the-justifiabilit_2397684.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/218/glenn-greenwald-1215_attacks_whatever-one-thinks-of-the-justifiabilit_2397684.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/218/glenn-greenwald-1215_attacks_whatever-one-thinks-of-the-justifiabilit_2397684.jpg) > “Whatever one thinks of the justifiability of drone attacks, it's one of the least 'brave' or courageous modes of warfare ever invented. It's one thing to call it just, but to pretend it's 'brave' is Orwellian in the extreme.” [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Drone attacks lack bravery; calling them brave is a dangerous mischaracterization. **In simple terms:** Drones are not courageous; bravery is misused. Key Takeaway Question the moral framing of modern warfare. Themes ethics warfare technology bravery Mood critical analytical Type political ethical When to use this quote - Policy discussions - military strategy reviews Key Concepts military ethics propaganda humanity Questions to Reflect On - Is any form of warfare ever truly brave? - How does technology change our moral language? A Different Perspective Bravery can be redefined in non‑physical contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attacks/) [Attacks Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attacks-brave-5994739/) [Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave/) [Brave Orwellian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave-orwellian-5994738/) [Call](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/call/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courageous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courageous/) [Drone Attacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drone-attacks-2868078/) [Ever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ever/) [Extreme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extreme/) [Invented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invented/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Justifiability Drone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justifiability-drone-5994737/) [Least](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/least/) [Modes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modes/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [Orwellian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orwellian/) [Pretend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretend/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Thinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinks/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Warfare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warfare/) [Whatever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whatever/) ## Related quotes > [Who cares if virtually the entire world views Obama's drone attacks as unjustified and wrong? Who cares if the Muslim world continues to seethe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/who-cares-if-virtually-the-entire-world-views-obama-s-drone-attacks/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [I think Dianne Feinstein may be the most Orwellian political official in Washington. It is hard to imagine having a government more secretive than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/i-think-dianne-feinstein-may-be-the-most-orwellian-political-official/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [Anti-U.S. sentiment has been born out of many grievances - support and weapons for such dictators as Mubarak, unquestionable support for Israel in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-eltahawy/anti-u-s-sentiment-has-been-born-out-of-many-grievances-support-and/) [Mona Eltahawy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-eltahawy/) > [“USA drone attacks are a crime against humanity, We Need Humanity , More than Cleverness, We need kindness, We need all of Human qualities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suraj/usa-drone-attacks-are-a-crime-against-humanity-we-need-humanity-more/) [Suraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suraj/) > [There's an unintended consequence when it comes to drone attacks in Yemen. Yeah, you take out the al-Qaida stronghold, but you also wipe out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/there-s-an-unintended-consequence-when-it-comes-to-drone-attacks-in/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [Drone attacks subvert the rule of law - we become judge, jury, and executioner - at the push of a button.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/drone-attacks-subvert-the-rule-of-law-we-become-judge-jury-and/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [Drone attacks are against the national sovereignty and a challenge for the country's autonomy and independence. Therefore, we won't tolerate these attacks in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawaz-sharif/drone-attacks-are-against-the-national-sovereignty-and-a-challenge/) [Nawaz Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawaz-sharif/) > [Few people know that President Obama has used drone attacks many times more than Bush ever did. Obama's off the charts in terms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-turley/few-people-know-that-president-obama-has-used-drone-attacks-many/) [Jonathan Turley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-turley/) > [I was taken off from plane and interrogated by U.S. Immigration in Canada on my views on drones. My stance is known. Drone attacks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imran-khan/i-was-taken-off-from-plane-and-interrogated-by-u-s-immigration-in/) [Imran Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imran-khan/) > [In Waziristan people get really upset when there are no drone attacks. Their apprehension is that the US and Pakistani government might enter in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pervez-hoodbhoy/in-waziristan-people-get-really-upset-when-there-are-no-drone-attacks/) [Pervez Hoodbhoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pervez-hoodbhoy/) > [I'm in two modes when I'm on Lanai: In engineering mode, I'm trying to find the right place for the reservoir and the desalination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/i-m-in-two-modes-when-i-m-on-lanai-in-engineering-mode-i-m-trying-to/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) > [The kind of support encouraged by such modes of expression has always arisen basically from confusing the fatherland itself with the social conditions which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hjalmar-branting/the-kind-of-support-encouraged-by-such-modes-of-expression-has-always/) [Hjalmar Branting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hjalmar-branting/) > [If the modes are changing, one goes along with it, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amitabh-bachchan/if-the-modes-are-changing-one-goes-along-with-it-i-guess/) [Amitabh Bachchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amitabh-bachchan/) > [Human nature is the same everywhere; the modes only are different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/human-nature-is-the-same-everywhere-the-modes-only-are-different/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [What is it with you, sex, and modes of transportation?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/what-is-it-with-you-sex-and-modes-of-transportation/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) ## More by Glenn Greenwald > [In essence, I see the value of journalism as resting in a twofold mission: informing the public of accurate and vital information, and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/in-essence-i-see-the-value-of-journalism-as-resting-in-a-twofold/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“The evidence shows that assurances that surveillance is only targeted at those who “have done something wrong” should provide little comfort, since a state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/the-evidence-shows-that-assurances-that-surveillance-is-only-targeted/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“It's almost hard to imagine anything more undemocratic than the view that political officials should not debate American wars in public, but only express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/it-s-almost-hard-to-imagine-anything-more-undemocratic-than-the-view/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [It's hardly news that the Obama administration is intensely and, in many respects, unprecedentedly hostile toward the news-gathering process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/it-s-hardly-news-that-the-obama-administration-is-intensely-and-in/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [Only In America can a renowned and devoted terrorism supporter like Peter King be the arbiter of national security and treason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/only-in-america-can-a-renowned-and-devoted-terrorism-supporter-like/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“Above even our physical well-being, a central value is keeping the state out of the private realm—our “persons, houses, papers, and effects,” as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/above-even-our-physical-well-being-a-central-value-is-keeping-the/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“That capability at any time could be turned around on the American people and no American would have any privacy left, such is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/that-capability-at-any-time-could-be-turned-around-on-the-american/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“Converting the Internet into a system of surveillance thus guts it of its core potential. Worse, it turns the Internet into a tool of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/converting-the-internet-into-a-system-of-surveillance-thus-guts-it-of/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“the desire for privacy is shared by us all as an essential, not ancillary, part of what it means to be human. We all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/the-desire-for-privacy-is-shared-by-us-all-as-an-essential-not/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [I don't have a 'side'—I'm responsible for what I say and nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/i-don-t-have-a-side-i-m-responsible-for-what-i-say-and-nothing-else/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“Encryption matters, and it is not just for spies and philanderers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/encryption-matters-and-it-is-not-just-for-spies-and-philanderers/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“Among other devices, the agency intercepts and tampers with routers and servers manufactured by Cisco to direct large amounts of Internet traffic back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/among-other-devices-the-agency-intercepts-and-tampers-with-routers/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“NSA has increasingly made use of a secret technology that enables it to enter and alter data in computers even if they are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/nsa-has-increasingly-made-use-of-a-secret-technology-that-enables-it/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [A key purpose of journalism is to provide an adversarial check on those who wield the greatest power by shining a light on what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/a-key-purpose-of-journalism-is-to-provide-an-adversarial-check-on/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [“We all instinctively understand that the private realm is where we can act, think, speak, write, experiment, and choose how to be, away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/we-all-instinctively-understand-that-the-private-realm-is-where-we/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) [Explore all 270 Glenn Greenwald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) ## More Attacks quotes > [The way I look at it is, cancer research is absolutely nonpartisan. Cancer is very democratic in the sense that it attacks people regardless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-koch/the-way-i-look-at-it-is-cancer-research-is-absolutely-nonpartisan/) [David H. Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-koch/) > [I personally felt that his ad hominen attacks on British architects were not the sort of thing a Prince of Wales should be doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-holden/i-personally-felt-that-his-ad-hominen-attacks-on-british-architects/) [Anthony Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-holden/) > [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [If nothing else, the cyber attacks that occurred during the 2016 presidential election have laid bare the very real vulnerabilities that exist across our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-quigley/if-nothing-else-the-cyber-attacks-that-occurred-during-the-2016/) [Mike Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-quigley/) > [We've had Saudis and Jordanians and Pakistanis who have - and Syrians - who have been involved in armed attacks against coalition forces in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/we-ve-had-saudis-and-jordanians-and-pakistanis-who-have-and-syrians/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [“At the same time that we see a massive deployment of wireless radiation, we see the most violent attacks on modern society.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/at-the-same-time-that-we-see-a-massive-deployment-of-wireless/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [At sleepovers I would have panic attacks trying to break it to girls that they didn't want to kiss me without outing myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/io-tillett-wright/at-sleepovers-i-would-have-panic-attacks-trying-to-break-it-to-girls/) [iO Tillett Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/io-tillett-wright/) > [I knew I was having a panic attack. I hadn't had one in a while, though, and I'd forgotton how it makes me feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hemantsmarty/i-knew-i-was-having-a-panic-attack-i-hadn-t-had-one-in-a-while-though/) [Hemantsmarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hemantsmarty/) > [We now know that gun-free zones, though well intentioned, do not prevent attacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/we-now-know-that-gun-free-zones-though-well-intentioned-do-not/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Weichel hits very hard and is very good with the timing of his attacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricio-freire/weichel-hits-very-hard-and-is-very-good-with-the-timing-of-his-attacks/) [Patricio Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricio-freire/) > [The wrongful arrest of tens of thousands of British Muslims after the September 11 attacks can be explained by the very poor intelligence the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/the-wrongful-arrest-of-tens-of-thousands-of-british-muslims-after-the/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [Mediocrity always attacks excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/mediocrity-always-attacks-excellence/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [The majority of terrorist attacks that have been disrupted in the United States have been disrupted due to things like the Time Square bomber,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-majority-of-terrorist-attacks-that-have-been-disrupted-in-the/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [We can't gather the intelligence we need to foil future attacks, if we are blindly granting terrorists the right to remain silent. But for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-can-t-gather-the-intelligence-we-need-to-foil-future-attacks-if-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Less than a year after the Sept. 11 attacks, al-Qaida attacks were continuing: the firebombing of a synagogue in Tunisia in April, a bomb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/less-than-a-year-after-the-sept-11-attacks-al-qaida-attacks-were/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) [Browse all 291 Attacks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attacks/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whatever one thinks of the justifiability of drone attacks, it's one of the least 'brave' or courageous modes of warfare ever invented. It's one thing to call it just, but to pretend it's 'brave' is Orwellian in the extreme.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Glenn Greenwald" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/whatever-one-thinks-of-the-justifiability-of-drone-attacks-it-s-one/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attacks" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/whatever-one-thinks-of-the-justifiability-of-drone-attacks-it-s-one/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/218/glenn-greenwald-1215_attacks_whatever-one-thinks-of-the-justifiabilit_2397684.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/218/glenn-greenwald-1215_attacks_whatever-one-thinks-of-the-justifiabilit_2397684.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/218/glenn-greenwald-1215_attacks_whatever-one-thinks-of-the-justifiabilit_2397684.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whatever one thinks of the justifiability of drone attacks, it's one of the least 'brave' or courageous…” — Glenn Greenwald", "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": "Glenn Greenwald", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Whatever one thinks of the justifiability...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/whatever-one-thinks-of-the-justifiability-of-drone-attacks-it-s-one/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/whatever-one-thinks-of-the-justifiability-of-drone-attacks-it-s-one/#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 } } ] } ```