---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: after the war, historian Marilyn Young…"
description: "\"“after the war, historian Marilyn Young warned: The U.S. can destroy Iraq’s highways, but not build its own; create the conditions for epidemic in Iraq..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/howard-zinn-576_drug-addict_after-the-war-historian-marilyn-young-wa_1287701.jpg"
---

#  after the war, historian Marilyn Young warned: The U.S…

![“after the war, historian Marilyn Young warned: The U.S. can destroy Iraq’s highways, but not build its own; create the conditions for epidemic in Iraq, but not offer health care to millions of Americans. It can excoriate Iraqi treatment of the Kurdish minority, but not deal with domestic race…” quote by Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/howard-zinn-576_drug-addict_after-the-war-historian-marilyn-young-wa_1287701.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/howard-zinn-576_drug-addict_after-the-war-historian-marilyn-young-wa_1287701.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/howard-zinn-576_drug-addict_after-the-war-historian-marilyn-young-wa_1287701.jpg)

> ““after the war, historian Marilyn Young warned: The U.S. can destroy Iraq’s highways, but not build its own; create the conditions for epidemic in Iraq, but not offer health care to millions of Americans. It can excoriate Iraqi treatment of the Kurdish minority, but not deal with domestic race relations; create homelessness abroad but not solve it here; keep a half million troops drug free as part of a war, but refuse to fund the treatment of millions of drug addicts at home. . . . We shall lose the war after we have won it.””

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

## About This Quote

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

War creates external problems while neglecting domestic issues, leading to hollow victories.

**In simple terms:** War harms abroad but ignores home problems, causing false wins.

Key Takeaway

Address both foreign and domestic challenges equally.

Themes

war ethics policy critique social justice human cost

Mood

somber critical

Type

political analytical

When to use this quote

- policy making
- humanitarian aid
- community health
- education reform

Key Concepts

imperialism public health racial equity economic disparity

Questions to Reflect On

- What domestic issues are overlooked during wartime?
- How can societies prevent such double standards?

A Different Perspective

Critics may argue resources are limited; balancing priorities is complex.

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