---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think what the president [Barack Obama]…"
description: "\"I think what the president [Barack Obama] understands, and what he's trying to do, is that we have to support the Arab and Kurdish fighters on the grou..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/hillary-clinton-51_barack_i-think-what-the-president-barack-obama_1704882.jpg"
---

#  I think what the president \[Barack Obama\] understands, and…

![“I think what the president &#91;Barack Obama&#93; understands, and what he's trying to do, is that we have to support the Arab and Kurdish fighters on the ground who are actually doing the fighting.” quote by Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/hillary-clinton-51_barack_i-think-what-the-president-barack-obama_1704882.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/hillary-clinton-51_barack_i-think-what-the-president-barack-obama_1704882.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/hillary-clinton-51_barack_i-think-what-the-president-barack-obama_1704882.jpg)

> “I think what the president \[Barack Obama\] understands, and what he's trying to do, is that we have to support the Arab and Kurdish fighters on the ground who are actually doing the fighting.”

[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.

The speaker emphasizes the need to back on fighters actually engaged in combat on the ground, highlighting pragmatic support over rhetoric.

**In simple terms:** Support those actively fighting on the ground.

Key Takeaway

Back effective allies directly.

Themes

politics military alliances

Mood

strategic pragmatic

Type

analytical concerned

When to use this quote

- military aid
- diplomatic negotiations
- humanitarian assistance

Key Concepts

realpolitik foreign policy

Questions to Reflect On

- How to balance support with oversight?
- What are the long‑term impacts of such aid?

A Different Perspective

Support may entangle in complex politics.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Barack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barack/) [Fighter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighter/) [Fighters Ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighters-ground-1186812/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Kurdish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kurdish/) [Kurdish Fighters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kurdish-fighters-1186811/) [Obama Understands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obama-understands-771199/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President Barack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-barack/) [President barack obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-barack-obama/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Support Arab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support-arab-1186810/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/)

## Related quotes

> [ The president \[Barack Obama\] understands that the country's very concerned about \[terrorism\] issue. And I think what you're going to hear from him is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-president-barack-obama-understands-that-the-country-s-very/)

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

> [There is a school in Israel called Hand in Hand which I support. There Arab and Jewish students study together on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/there-is-a-school-in-israel-called-hand-in-hand-which-i-support-there/)

[Zubin Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/)

> [We also have to intensify our air strikes against ISIS and eventually support our Arab and Kurdish partners to be able to actually take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-also-have-to-intensify-our-air-strikes-against-isis-and-eventually/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [President Obama understands women. He trusts women. And on every issue that matters to us, he stands with women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-richards/president-obama-understands-women-he-trusts-women-and-on-every-issue/)

[Cecile Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-richards/)

> [As a businessman, I know President Obama understands what it takes to spark economic growth, because I have seen him in action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-ligon/as-a-businessman-i-know-president-obama-understands-what-it-takes-to/)

[Austin Ligon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-ligon/)

> [Like Lyndon Johnson, President Obama understands that timidity in a time of troubles is a prescription for failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/like-lyndon-johnson-president-obama-understands-that-timidity-in-a/)

[Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/)

> [I don't think Obama understands basic economics. Not economics that work. He may understand some theory that someone in Princeton sat and dreamed up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/i-don-t-think-obama-understands-basic-economics-not-economics-that/)

[Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/)

> [Barack Obama understands what Ronald Reagan learned, which is that people vote not on the basis of issues and policy details, but on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lakoff/barack-obama-understands-what-ronald-reagan-learned-which-is-that/)

[George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/)

> [ I look at what the president \[Barack Obama\] it doing, it adds up to me. We just have to keep - try to get… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-look-at-what-the-president-barack-obama-it-doing-it-adds-up-to-me/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [ I'm thrilled the president \[Barack Obama\] has endorsed me. We started off as fierce competitors, and we've ended up as true friends and partners… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-m-thrilled-the-president-barack-obama-has-endorsed-me-we-started/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [I'm going to keep talking about what I would do as president, the experience that I bring, the temperament and judgment that led President…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-m-going-to-keep-talking-about-what-i-would-do-as-president-the/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [ The president \[Barack Obama\] himself has said he thought part of his job was to remind the American people that being president and commander… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/the-president-barack-obama-himself-has-said-he-thought-part-of-his/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [ I think people need to remember what the situation was when President \[Barack\] Obama came into office. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-think-people-need-to-remember-what-the-situation-was-when-president/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [ I think what President \[Barack\] Obama has done is to chart a steady course. When I was there, the first four years we had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-think-what-president-barack-obama-has-done-is-to-chart-a-steady/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [ I agree with the president \[Barack Obama\]. I've said myself, we will not send American combat troops back to either Syria or Iraq -… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-agree-with-the-president-barack-obama-i-ve-said-myself-we-will-not/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

## 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 Barack quotes

> [ 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/)

> [We know the candidate Barack Obama, what he was like - the anti-war government nig... America was a source for division around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-know-the-candidate-barack-obama-what-he-was-like-the-anti-war/)

[Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/)

> [We're in more wars today under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton than under George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan. Yet they tell you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-re-in-more-wars-today-under-barack-obama-and-hillary-clinton-than/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [I can tell you who's planning terroris attacks. The leaders of ISIL. And I can tell you where they're at. They're in Raqqa, Syria.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-tell-you-who-s-planning-terroris-attacks-the-leaders-of-isil/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [ The president \[Barack Obama\] asked for a commitment of, I think, 100,000 jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next couple of years.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/the-president-barack-obama-asked-for-a-commitment-of-i-think-100-000/)

[Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/)

> [The big story today, Barack Obama was accused of insulting Sarah Palin when he criticized Republican policies by saying, you can put lipstick on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/the-big-story-today-barack-obama-was-accused-of-insulting-sarah-palin/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [ I think the president's \[Barack Obama\] position has been very clear on Syria. He wants more aggressive, he's put the Special Ops on the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/i-think-the-president-s-barack-obama-position-has-been-very-clear-on/)

[Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/)

> [ It cannot be an American fight. And I think what the president \[Barack Obama\] has consistently said - which I agree with - is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-cannot-be-an-american-fight-and-i-think-what-the-president-barack/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [It doesn't matter to me where Barack Obama goes. If he wants to go to Hawaii because it's his home state, fine! Hunky-dory. Plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-doesn-t-matter-to-me-where-barack-obama-goes-if-he-wants-to-go-to/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [ It wasn't \[Barack\] Obama per se; it was the feeling on the ground; it was seeing an old black woman in a wheelchair being… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/it-wasn-t-barack-obama-per-se-it-was-the-feeling-on-the-ground-it-was/)

[Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/)

> [I don't think that we really know a whole lot about Barack Obama at all that you would really call distinctive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-mcwhorter/i-don-t-think-that-we-really-know-a-whole-lot-about-barack-obama-at/)

[John H. McWhorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-mcwhorter/)

> [Just like Barack Obama, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and now I am a reluctant groom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/just-like-barack-obama-my-views-on-gay-marriage-have-evolved-and-now/)

[Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/)

> [I think President Barack Obama has been an extraordinarily successful president, and that this period will record that with a bunch of exclamation points.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/i-think-president-barack-obama-has-been-an-extraordinarily-successful/)

[Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/)

> [The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atherton/the-archives-recall-not-one-single-incriminating-incident-not-one/)

[Michael Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-atherton/)

> [In public, Barack Obama's giving the simple version of his beliefs for the mass public. In private, he can discuss it at a really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-chait/in-public-barack-obama-s-giving-the-simple-version-of-his-beliefs-for/)

[Jonathan Chait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-chait/)

[Browse all 1,672 Barack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barack/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think what the president [Barack Obama] understands, and what he's trying to do, is that we have to support the Arab and Kurdish fighters on the ground who are actually doing the fighting.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Hillary Clinton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-think-what-the-president-barack-obama-understands-and-what-he-s/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Barack"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-think-what-the-president-barack-obama-understands-and-what-he-s/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/hillary-clinton-51_barack_i-think-what-the-president-barack-obama_1704882.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/hillary-clinton-51_barack_i-think-what-the-president-barack-obama_1704882.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/hillary-clinton-51_barack_i-think-what-the-president-barack-obama_1704882.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think what the president [Barack Obama] understands, and what he's trying to do, is that we have to…” — 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 what the president [Barack...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-think-what-the-president-barack-obama-understands-and-what-he-s/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-think-what-the-president-barack-obama-understands-and-what-he-s/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
