--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that the decision to go to war in…" description: "\"I think that the decision to go to war in Iraq was a mistake.\" — Hillary Clinton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/304/hillary-clinton-51_decision_i-think-that-the-decision-to-go-to-war-i_2243736.jpg" --- # I think that the decision to go to war in Iraq was a… ![“I think that the decision to go to war in Iraq was a mistake.” quote by Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/304/hillary-clinton-51_decision_i-think-that-the-decision-to-go-to-war-i_2243736.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/304/hillary-clinton-51_decision_i-think-that-the-decision-to-go-to-war-i_2243736.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/304/hillary-clinton-51_decision_i-think-that-the-decision-to-go-to-war-i_2243736.jpg) > “I think that the decision to go to war in Iraq was a mistake.” [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She believes the Iraq war was a strategic error with costly consequences. **In simple terms:** War was a mistake. Key Takeaway Reevaluate foreign interventions. Themes politics war strategy Mood critical reflective Type political analytical When to use this quote - policy analysis - military planning - public debate Key Concepts geopolitics decision making Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives could have been pursued? - How can future interventions be better assessed? A Different Perspective War decisions often ignore long‑term regional stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [I have said the invasion of Iraq was a mistake. But I think if we're ever going to really tackle the problems posed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-have-said-the-invasion-of-iraq-was-a-mistake-but-i-think-if-we-re/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Ending torture and tyranny in Iraq was not a mistake. Supporting democracy in Iraq is not a mistake. Helping the long-suffering Muslims of Iraq…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-novak/ending-torture-and-tyranny-in-iraq-was-not-a-mistake-supporting/) [Michael Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-novak/) > [We were in opposition to the decision to go to war. But after the war happened, it was clear that you could not sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joschka-fischer/we-were-in-opposition-to-the-decision-to-go-to-war-but-after-the-war/) [Joschka Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joschka-fischer/) > [“Think of every decision as a bet with a probability and a reward for being right and a probability and a penalty for being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/think-of-every-decision-as-a-bet-with-a-probability-and-a-reward-for/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [I had said from the start that I thought Iraq was a mistake, that we should have stayed focused on Afghanistan. I think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-had-said-from-the-start-that-i-thought-iraq-was-a-mistake-that-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Conventional wisdom holds that setting a timetable for getting American troops out of Iraq would be a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clooney/conventional-wisdom-holds-that-setting-a-timetable-for-getting/) [Nick Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clooney/) > [Once Iraq becomes a nuclear power, the very decision to go to war against it would become a totally different ball game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/once-iraq-becomes-a-nuclear-power-the-very-decision-to-go-to-war/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [The questions which for years were in dispute between the State and General Government, and which unhappily were not decided by the dictates of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/the-questions-which-for-years-were-in-dispute-between-the-state-and/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [It is a tough choice. In war, people die. But when we refuse to confront the enemy, we will face the enemy in New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/it-is-a-tough-choice-in-war-people-die-but-when-we-refuse-to-confront/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Whoever takes the decision of war, he is surely a stupid man!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/whoever-takes-the-decision-of-war-he-is-surely-a-stupid-man/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [When a decision is made to go to war based on intelligence, it is a fateful decision. It has ramifications and impacts way beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/when-a-decision-is-made-to-go-to-war-based-on-intelligence-it-is-a/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [Starting to think my decision-making skills need an overhaul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/starting-to-think-my-decision-making-skills-need-an-overhaul/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think all decision making is very instinctive, in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nell-hudson/i-think-all-decision-making-is-very-instinctive-in-the-end/) [Nell Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nell-hudson/) > [“And indeed, that IS the question: whether to float with the tide, or to swim for a goal. It is a choice we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/and-indeed-that-is-the-question-whether-to-float-with-the-tide-or-to/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [We allow ourselves to be blown by the winds because we do know what we want: our hearts know it, even if our thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-asad/we-allow-ourselves-to-be-blown-by-the-winds-because-we-do-know-what/) [Muhammad Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-asad/) ## More by Hillary Clinton > [When it comes to bullying small businesses, Donald Trump is the poster boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/when-it-comes-to-bullying-small-businesses-donald-trump-is-the-poster/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I'm going to do everything I can to get myself elected, but that's not enough. I'm going to try to help move the Senate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-m-going-to-do-everything-i-can-to-get-myself-elected-but-that-s-not/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I think we have to take a look at corporate law. We have to take a look at the incentives that we can perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-think-we-have-to-take-a-look-at-corporate-law-we-have-to-take-a/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I am somewhat influenced by the years that I've spent trying to actually get things done, whether it was reforming education in Arkansas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-somewhat-influenced-by-the-years-that-i-ve-spent-trying-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We know in New York we have several million at any one time who are in New York illegally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-know-in-new-york-we-have-several-million-at-any-one-time-who-are/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I have always believed that women are not victims, we are agents of change, we are drivers of progress, we are makers of peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-have-always-believed-that-women-are-not-victims-we-are-agents-of/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I have clearly said we faced terrorist enemies who use Islam to justify slaughtering innocent people and we have to stop them and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-have-clearly-said-we-faced-terrorist-enemies-who-use-islam-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [If I had lost the popular vote but won the electoral college and in my first day as president the intelligence community came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-i-had-lost-the-popular-vote-but-won-the-electoral-college-and-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We now have power under the Dodd-Frank legislation to break up banks. And I've said I will use that power if they pose a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-now-have-power-under-the-dodd-frank-legislation-to-break-up-banks/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I am not going to make promises I can't keep. I am not going to talk about big ideas like single-payer and then not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-not-going-to-make-promises-i-can-t-keep-i-am-not-going-to-talk/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [It's important to recognize that expanding the circle of opportunity and increasing the democratic potential of our own society, as well as those across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-s-important-to-recognize-that-expanding-the-circle-of-opportunity/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We're living in a technological world. You cannot tell me we can't do a better job getting that information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-re-living-in-a-technological-world-you-cannot-tell-me-we-can-t-do/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I do not think homosexuality is immoral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-do-not-think-homosexuality-is-immoral/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We need to have more second chance programs. I'm glad that we're ending private prisons in the federal system; I want to see them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-need-to-have-more-second-chance-programs-i-m-glad-that-we-re/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [A nuclear-weapons armed Iran is not in anyone's human-rights interests. That is a direct threat to the lives and the livelihoods and the stability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/a-nuclear-weapons-armed-iran-is-not-in-anyone-s-human-rights/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) [Explore all 1,911 Hillary Clinton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) ## More Decision quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“it is either you happen to life or life happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/it-is-either-you-happen-to-life-or-life-happens-to-you/) [Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/) > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) [Browse all 9,145 Decision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think that the decision to go to war in Iraq was a mistake.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hillary Clinton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-think-that-the-decision-to-go-to-war-in-iraq-was-a-mistake/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Decision" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-think-that-the-decision-to-go-to-war-in-iraq-was-a-mistake/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/304/hillary-clinton-51_decision_i-think-that-the-decision-to-go-to-war-i_2243736.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/304/hillary-clinton-51_decision_i-think-that-the-decision-to-go-to-war-i_2243736.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/304/hillary-clinton-51_decision_i-think-that-the-decision-to-go-to-war-i_2243736.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think that the decision to go to war in Iraq was a mistake.” — Hillary Clinton", "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": "Hillary Clinton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think that the decision to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-think-that-the-decision-to-go-to-war-in-iraq-was-a-mistake/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-think-that-the-decision-to-go-to-war-in-iraq-was-a-mistake/#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 } } ] } ```