--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are going to punish somebody for this…" description: "\"“We are going to punish somebody for this attack, but just who or where will be blown to smithereens for it is hard to say. Maybe Afghanistan, maybe Pa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7d/hunter-s-thompson-278_george-w_we-are-going-to-punish-somebody-for-this_2929202.jpg" --- # We are going to punish somebody for this attack, but just… ![“We are going to punish somebody for this attack, but just who or where will be blown to smithereens for it is hard to say. Maybe Afghanistan, maybe Pakistan or Iraq, or possibly all three at once. Who knows? Not even the Generals in what remains of the Pentagon or the New York papers calling for…” quote by Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7d/hunter-s-thompson-278_george-w_we-are-going-to-punish-somebody-for-this_2929202.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7d/hunter-s-thompson-278_george-w_we-are-going-to-punish-somebody-for-this_2929202.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7d/hunter-s-thompson-278_george-w_we-are-going-to-punish-somebody-for-this_2929202.jpg) > ““We are going to punish somebody for this attack, but just who or where will be blown to smithereens for it is hard to say. Maybe Afghanistan, maybe Pakistan or Iraq, or possibly all three at once. Who knows? Not even the Generals in what remains of the Pentagon or the New York papers calling for war seem to know who did it or where to look for them. This is going to be a very expensive war, and Victory is not guaranteed--for anyone, and certainly not for a baffled little creep like George W. Bush. All he knows is that his father started the war a long time ago, and that he, the goofy child President, has been chosen by Fate and the global Oil industry to finish it off.”” [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A cynical view that wars are driven by hidden agendas, unclear enemies, and profit motives, making outcomes uncertain and costly. **In simple terms:** War is messy, profit‑driven, and uncertain. Key Takeaway Question motives, demand transparency. Themes politics war media power economics Mood skeptical critical somber Type political analytical controversial When to use this quote - policy debates - journalistic analysis - public protests - academic courses - international negotiations Key Concepts propaganda geopolitics oil industry fate Questions to Reflect On - Who truly benefits from conflict? - How can citizens hold leaders accountable for war decisions? A Different Perspective War may be justified by rhetoric but often lacks clear purpose or accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bush Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bush-knows-4307886/) [Expensive War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expensive-war-4307884/) [George w](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/george-w/) [Iraq Possibly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq-possibly-2620151/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Long time ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time-ago/) [Maybe Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe-afghanistan-4307885/) [Oil industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oil-industry/) [Somebody Attack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somebody-attack-345651/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“I sat against one of the house’s clay walls. The kinship I felt suddenly for the old land... it surprised me. I’d been gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/i-sat-against-one-of-the-house-s-clay-walls-the-kinship-i-felt/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [Look at the results of regime change in Iraq. You can't possibly claim that it was successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/look-at-the-results-of-regime-change-in-iraq-you-can-t-possibly-claim/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [“His success was due in part to his ability to spread his own paranoia, the fear that there was always somebody about to attack.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-davis/his-success-was-due-in-part-to-his-ability-to-spread-his-own-paranoia/) [Joshua Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-davis/) > [It makes me crazy to think that somebody might attack my city or any other city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/it-makes-me-crazy-to-think-that-somebody-might-attack-my-city-or-any/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [Part of what the food industry does with public relations, just like the chemical industry or the oil industry, is to try to erase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-lappe/part-of-what-the-food-industry-does-with-public-relations-just-like/) [Anna Lappe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-lappe/) > [“Alberta's two largest cities collected more in library fines than two higher levels of government levied against polluters in 2006-2007.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-laird/alberta-s-two-largest-cities-collected-more-in-library-fines-than-two/) [Gordon Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-laird/) > [“The Los Angeles Air Pollution Control Board is established in 1946 in an effort to discover the cause of the brown cloud hanging over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/the-los-angeles-air-pollution-control-board-is-established-in-1946-in/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [We thank those Senators, both Republican and Democrat, who stood firm against tremendous pressure from the Bush administration, pro-drilling members of Congress and their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-pope/we-thank-those-senators-both-republican-and-democrat-who-stood-firm/) [Carl Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-pope/) > [It was very interesting to me that when Louisiana was destroyed in that flood the fundamentalists were very quick to say, it's the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/it-was-very-interesting-to-me-that-when-louisiana-was-destroyed-in/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Across the country, people are willing to tighten their belts and sacrifice. The president should ask the oil industry to do the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-salazar/across-the-country-people-are-willing-to-tighten-their-belts-and/) [John Salazar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-salazar/) > [ “Yet the extravagant enthusiasm for profit persisted among businessmen. In the spring of 1969 Senator Long \[spoke out against\] a partisan of the oil… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-epstein/yet-the-extravagant-enthusiasm-for-profit-persisted-among-businessmen/) [Jason Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-epstein/) > [You see this in the oil industry time and time again. Fears that we've found the last oil, that we're going to run out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/porter-stansberry/you-see-this-in-the-oil-industry-time-and-time-again-fears-that-we-ve/) [Porter Stansberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/porter-stansberry/) > [Much like tobacco companies want to keep smokers dependent on their deadly product, the oil industry wants to keep California dependent on oil –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barrett/much-like-tobacco-companies-want-to-keep-smokers-dependent-on-their/) [William Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barrett/) > [If I were investing in oil and gas stocks, there is one question I would ask CEO's: What portion of your capital is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyn-morgan/if-i-were-investing-in-oil-and-gas-stocks-there-is-one-question-i/) [Gwyn Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyn-morgan/) > [The oil industry is hardly free to operate as efficiently as it could or to be as responsive to consumer demands as it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-levin/the-oil-industry-is-hardly-free-to-operate-as-efficiently-as-it-could/) [Mark Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-levin/) ## More by Hunter S. Thompson > [“There was also the fact that sending a penniless writer to get $135 worth of beer was — as Khrushchev said of Nixon —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-was-also-the-fact-that-sending-a-penniless-writer-to-get-135/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“Cases of champagne and scotch lay broken in the street, and everyone I saw had a bottle. They were screaming and dancing, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/cases-of-champagne-and-scotch-lay-broken-in-the-street-and-everyone-i/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No music + Bad TV = Bad mood & no pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-music-bad-tv-bad-mood-no-pages/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/by-disgracing-and-degrading-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No one holds command over me. No man. No god. No Prince. What is a claim of age for ones who are immortal? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-one-holds-command-over-me-no-man-no-god-no-prince-what-is-a-claim/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“The person who doesn't scatter the morning dew will not comb grey hairs”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-person-who-doesn-t-scatter-the-morning-dew-will-not-comb-grey/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Hope rises and dreams flicker and die. Love plans for tomorrow and loneliness thinks of yesterday. Life is beautiful and living is pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/hope-rises-and-dreams-flicker-and-die-love-plans-for-tomorrow-and/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [If we get chased out of Iraq with our tail between our legs, that will be the fifth consecutive Third-world country with no hint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/if-we-get-chased-out-of-iraq-with-our-tail-between-our-legs-that-will/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [At age 22 I set what I insist is an all-time record for distance hitchhiking in Bermuda shorts: 3,700 miles in three weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/at-age-22-i-set-what-i-insist-is-an-all-time-record-for-distance/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Paranoia is just another mask for ignorance. The truth, when you finally chase it down is almost always far worse than your darkest visions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/paranoia-is-just-another-mask-for-ignorance-the-truth-when-you/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“No doubt they all Got What Was Coming To Them. All those pathetically eager acid freaks who thought they could buy Peace and Understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-doubt-they-all-got-what-was-coming-to-them-all-those-pathetically/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“For several months they'd been drifting toward political involvement, but the picture was hazy and one of the most confusing elements was their geographical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/for-several-months-they-d-been-drifting-toward-political-involvement/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [He wandered into the Newsroom and asked for a job the same way he’d walk into a barbershop and ask for a haircut, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/he-wandered-into-the-newsroom-and-asked-for-a-job-the-same-way-he-d/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There's no point in getting into politics at all unless you plan to lash things around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-no-point-in-getting-into-politics-at-all-unless-you-plan-to/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There’s a lot of things wrong with this country, but one of the few things still right with it is that a man can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-a-lot-of-things-wrong-with-this-country-but-one-of-the-few/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) [Explore all 765 Hunter S. Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## More George w quotes > [“Does it work with sandwiches? he asked. I didn't move. He handed it over. George was watching with a kind of neutral curiosity, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-bender/does-it-work-with-sandwiches-he-asked-i-didn-t-move-he-handed-it-over/) [Aimee Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-bender/) > [The GOP is broken. They need a Bill Clinton moment with someone to figure things out. Let me just say - and I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/the-gop-is-broken-they-need-a-bill-clinton-moment-with-someone-to/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [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/) > [George Winston piano albums have been my go-to since junior high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/george-winston-piano-albums-have-been-my-go-to-since-junior-high/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [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/) > [“Doctor Parcival began to plead with George Willard. 'You must pay attention to me,' he urged. 'If something happens you will be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-anderson/doctor-parcival-began-to-plead-with-george-willard-you-must-pay/) [Sherwood Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-anderson/) > [We're half an hour from Toronto, which offers everything you could want from a city, and a couple of hours from beautiful vacation country.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linwood-barclay/we-re-half-an-hour-from-toronto-which-offers-everything-you-could/) [Linwood Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linwood-barclay/) > [The president of the United States of North America, George W. Bush, the little gentleman of the North, the political cadaver that is visiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-chavez/the-president-of-the-united-states-of-north-america-george-w-bush-the/) [Hugo Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-chavez/) > [I remember when President Bush, George W. Bush, came into office, he focused on No Child Left Behind, and with - and before very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-alexander/i-remember-when-president-bush-george-w-bush-came-into-office-he/) [Lamar Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-alexander/) > [“Distinctively gentle he was, and trustworthy, and of special courtesy. His great physical strength was never used in combat, men remembered, except when needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-byrd-turner/distinctively-gentle-he-was-and-trustworthy-and-of-special-courtesy/) [Nancy Byrd Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-byrd-turner/) > [ “You can't really move forward until you look back. \[From Remaking America panel discussion at George Washington University\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/you-can-t-really-move-forward-until-you-look-back-from-remaking/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [I was one of the hardest-hitting conservatives on George W. Bush. Republicans didn't like me on George W. Bush. Republicans still don't like me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/i-was-one-of-the-hardest-hitting-conservatives-on-george-w-bush/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [President Obama gave a speech about healthcare tonight, and yesterday he gave a pep talk to students. He told them that in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/president-obama-gave-a-speech-about-healthcare-tonight-and-yesterday/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [George W. Bush did an incredible job in the presidency, defending us from freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/george-w-bush-did-an-incredible-job-in-the-presidency-defending-us/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [I'm not tempted to write a song about George W. Bush. I couldn't figure out what sort of song I would write. That's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/i-m-not-tempted-to-write-a-song-about-george-w-bush-i-couldn-t-figure/) [Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/) [Browse all 1,139 George w quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/george-w/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We are going to punish somebody for this attack, but just who or where will be blown to smithereens for it is hard to say. Maybe Afghanistan, maybe Pakistan or Iraq, or possibly all three at once. Who knows? Not even the Generals in what remains of the Pentagon or the New York papers calling for war seem to know who did it or where to look for them. This is going to be a very expensive war, and Victory is not guaranteed--for anyone, and certainly not for a baffled little creep like George W. Bush. 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