--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we have found is that we were the…" description: "\"What we have found is that we were the principal mediators in many cases between the Iraqis and their own security forces and their own government, and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/186/h-r-mcmaster-16254_embrace_what-we-have-found-is-that-we-were-the-p_1880256.jpg" --- # What we have found is that we were the principal mediators… ![“What we have found is that we were the principal mediators in many cases between the Iraqis and their own security forces and their own government, and so you have to almost embrace that role.” quote by H. R. McMaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/186/h-r-mcmaster-16254_embrace_what-we-have-found-is-that-we-were-the-p_1880256.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/186/h-r-mcmaster-16254_embrace_what-we-have-found-is-that-we-were-the-p_1880256.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/186/h-r-mcmaster-16254_embrace_what-we-have-found-is-that-we-were-the-p_1880256.jpg) > “What we have found is that we were the principal mediators in many cases between the Iraqis and their own security forces and their own government, and so you have to almost embrace that role.” [H. R. McMaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-r-mcmaster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mediators between conflicting parties must embrace their pivotal role for effective resolution. **In simple terms:** Mediators must accept their key role. Key Takeaway Own the mediator role responsibly. Themes conflict resolution leadership responsibility Mood strategic thoughtful Type political inspirational When to use this quote - peace talks - policy advising - community mediation Key Concepts mediators political negotiation strategic engagement Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities come with mediation? - How to balance neutrality and influence? A Different Perspective Mediation can be politically risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Security forces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security-forces/) ## Related quotes > [The Democrats have prevailed because, at heart, we have embodied a great idea, which is that an elected government can be the instrument of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-patrick-moynihan/the-democrats-have-prevailed-because-at-heart-we-have-embodied-a/) [Daniel Patrick Moynihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-patrick-moynihan/) > [...through schools of the world we shall disseminate a new conception of government - one that will embrace all of the collective activities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-rugg/through-schools-of-the-world-we-shall-disseminate-a-new-conception-of/) Harold Rugg > [So, friends, every day do something that won't compute. Love the Lord. Love the world. Work for nothing. Take all that you have and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/so-friends-every-day-do-something-that-won-t-compute-love-the-lord/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [I was pretty sure, going along the timeline, I was going to have to embrace being a role model for transsexuals in mixed martial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fallon-fox/i-was-pretty-sure-going-along-the-timeline-i-was-going-to-have-to/) [Fallon Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fallon-fox/) > [We have so many guys in the NHL who can lead by example and I embrace being a role model for a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-k-subban/we-have-so-many-guys-in-the-nhl-who-can-lead-by-example-and-i-embrace/) [P.K. Subban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-k-subban/) > [I think you have to embrace being a role model because you are in the public eye, and whether you like it or not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-bynes/i-think-you-have-to-embrace-being-a-role-model-because-you-are-in-the/) [Amanda Bynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-bynes/) > [CEOs must embrace the role of serving as the public face of the company to their customer community and the marketplace at large.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/ceos-must-embrace-the-role-of-serving-as-the-public-face-of-the/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [The whole life-effort of man is to get his life into direct contact with the elemental life of the cosmos, mountain life, cloud life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/the-whole-life-effort-of-man-is-to-get-his-life-into-direct-contact/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [Let me admonish you, first of all, to go alone; to refuse the good models, even those which are sacred in the imagination of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/let-me-admonish-you-first-of-all-to-go-alone-to-refuse-the-good/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [We laugh, we cry, we work, we play, we love, we live. And then we die. ... And dead we would remain but for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/we-laugh-we-cry-we-work-we-play-we-love-we-live-and-then-we-die-and/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [Jesus is the mediator of justice; Mary obtains for us grace; for, as St. Bernard, St. Bonaventure, St. Bernardine of Siena, St. Germanus, St.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonsus-liguori/jesus-is-the-mediator-of-justice-mary-obtains-for-us-grace-for-as-st/) [Alphonsus Liguori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonsus-liguori/) > [Within these premises, the only thing one can be is an impeccable mediator. One is not the player in this cosmic match of chess,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/within-these-premises-the-only-thing-one-can-be-is-an-impeccable/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [We are all mediators, translators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-derrida/we-are-all-mediators-translators/) [Jacques Derrida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-derrida/) > [If you are going to be a mediator or arbitrator you have to be in the middle between the two sides; you cannot take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/if-you-are-going-to-be-a-mediator-or-arbitrator-you-have-to-be-in-the/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) ## More by H. R. McMaster > [Much of the conventional wisdom associated with Vietnam was highly inaccurate. Far from an inevitable result of the imperative to contain communism, the war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-r-mcmaster/much-of-the-conventional-wisdom-associated-with-vietnam-was-highly/) [H. R. McMaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-r-mcmaster/) > [We confuse activity with progress, and that's always dangerous, especially in war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-r-mcmaster/we-confuse-activity-with-progress-and-that-s-always-dangerous/) [H. R. McMaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-r-mcmaster/) > [What is certain about the future is that even the best efforts to predict the conditions of future war will prove erroneous. What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-r-mcmaster/what-is-certain-about-the-future-is-that-even-the-best-efforts-to/) [H. R. McMaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-r-mcmaster/) > [We often operate effectively on the physical battleground but not on the psychological battleground. We fail to communicate our resolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-r-mcmaster/we-often-operate-effectively-on-the-physical-battleground-but-not-on/) [H. R. McMaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-r-mcmaster/) > [Consequences of linear thinking in Afghanistan and Iraq included overestimating indigenous forces' capabilities, underestimating the enemy, and the associated expectation that the coalition could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-r-mcmaster/consequences-of-linear-thinking-in-afghanistan-and-iraq-included/) [H. R. McMaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-r-mcmaster/) > [The war in Vietnam was not lost in the field, nor was it lost on the front pages of the New York Times or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-r-mcmaster/the-war-in-vietnam-was-not-lost-in-the-field-nor-was-it-lost-on-the/) [H. R. McMaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-r-mcmaster/) > [Bombing, particularly from the perspective of the receiving end, is not 'communication.' Bombs result in death and destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-r-mcmaster/bombing-particularly-from-the-perspective-of-the-receiving-end-is-not/) [H. R. McMaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-r-mcmaster/) > [When we came to Iraq, we didn't understand the complexity - what it meant for a society to live under a brutal dictatorship with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-r-mcmaster/when-we-came-to-iraq-we-didn-t-understand-the-complexity-what-it/) [H. R. McMaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-r-mcmaster/) > [I think any of us who have been involved in the mission of Iraq have developed a great deal of affection for the Iraqi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-r-mcmaster/i-think-any-of-us-who-have-been-involved-in-the-mission-of-iraq-have/) [H. R. McMaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-r-mcmaster/) > [Muslims who commit terrorist acts are perverting their religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-r-mcmaster/muslims-who-commit-terrorist-acts-are-perverting-their-religion/) [H. R. McMaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-r-mcmaster/) > [Because war is a competition involving life and death, and in which national security and vital interests are at stake, establishing an objective other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-r-mcmaster/because-war-is-a-competition-involving-life-and-death-and-in-which/) [H. R. McMaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-r-mcmaster/) > [What we can afford least is to define the problem of future war as we would like it to be and, by doing so,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-r-mcmaster/what-we-can-afford-least-is-to-define-the-problem-of-future-war-as-we/) [H. R. McMaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-r-mcmaster/) > [Offensive operations and hunting down the enemy is an integral part of any counterinsurgency approach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-r-mcmaster/offensive-operations-and-hunting-down-the-enemy-is-an-integral-part/) [H. R. McMaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-r-mcmaster/) > [Be skeptical of concepts that divorce war from its political nature, particularly those that promise fast, cheap victory through technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-r-mcmaster/be-skeptical-of-concepts-that-divorce-war-from-its-political-nature/) [H. R. McMaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-r-mcmaster/) > [Although combat operations unseated the Taliban and the Saddam Hussein regime, a poor understanding of the recent histories of the Afghan and Iraqi peoples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-r-mcmaster/although-combat-operations-unseated-the-taliban-and-the-saddam/) [H. R. McMaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-r-mcmaster/) [Explore all 40 H. R. McMaster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-r-mcmaster/) ## More Embrace quotes > [I had to get to the point where I just had to embrace carrying the torch for the traditional girls out there. I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamera-mowry/i-had-to-get-to-the-point-where-i-just-had-to-embrace-carrying-the/) [Tamera Mowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamera-mowry/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [Strong brows is what I have, and I embrace them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-connelly/strong-brows-is-what-i-have-and-i-embrace-them/) [Jennifer Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-connelly/) > [Stop chasing the things you want and embrace all that you already have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-chasing-the-things-you-want-and-embrace-all-that-you-already-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A man of power should embrace his Shadow, or if he cannot embrace it, at least accept it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-lampe/a-man-of-power-should-embrace-his-shadow-or-if-he-cannot-embrace-it/) [Katherine Lampe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-lampe/) > [“His hands on my waist he gently pulled me n embrace. I could feel his breath on my face our lips were about to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-eglinger/his-hands-on-my-waist-he-gently-pulled-me-n-embrace-i-could-feel-his/) [Nicole Eglinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-eglinger/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [To re-embrace what I once loved about music has been a warming process for me, because it's a good, earned feeling now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/to-re-embrace-what-i-once-loved-about-music-has-been-a-warming/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [I've certainly seen a lot of my cartoonist friends embrace 'Little Lulu' in a much deeper way because their kids love it so much.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/i-ve-certainly-seen-a-lot-of-my-cartoonist-friends-embrace-little/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [Sometimes, Ms. Lane," he said, "one must break with one's past to embrace one's future. It is never an easy thing to do. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/sometimes-ms-lane-he-said-one-must-break-with-one-s-past-to-embrace/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Those who embrace prejudice doom themselves to live in ignorance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-lintz-sr/those-who-embrace-prejudice-doom-themselves-to-live-in-ignorance/) John P Lintz Sr > [Life is a climb and it's a struggle getting to the top but the drop to the bottom can be quick and so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/life-is-a-climb-and-it-s-a-struggle-getting-to-the-top-but-the-drop/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Everything is a part of what God's up to in your life, so I think our job is to embrace it. Everything. Embrace it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-gaither/everything-is-a-part-of-what-god-s-up-to-in-your-life-so-i-think-our/) [Gloria Gaither](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-gaither/) > [At a time when painting itself often seems to be a threatened, even despised, form of artistic activity, Andrew Salgado emerges as a dazzlingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lucie-smith/at-a-time-when-painting-itself-often-seems-to-be-a-threatened-even/) Edward Lucie-Smith > [You want to embrace, but I can't figure out how to hold on to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-duritz/you-want-to-embrace-but-i-can-t-figure-out-how-to-hold-on-to-it/) [Adam Duritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-duritz/) Browse all 3,428 Embrace quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What we have found is that we were the principal mediators in many cases between the Iraqis and their own security forces and their own government, and so you have to almost embrace that role.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "H. 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