Time Quote by Jeffrey Gettleman
““I can’t remember any time the Americans have delivered a worse mess than this. You know what they’re doing?” He bent forward and dropped his voice to a whisper—that’s what I loved about Louis, life was a Le Carré novel to him. “They’re still backing the warlords. The CIA never cut the assistance, even after the clerics kicked the warlords’ ass, despite all those briefcases of cash. You know the assholes the CIA was backing? Qanyare? Abdi Qeybdiid? Hussein Aidid? They were the same assholes who shot down your helicopters during Black Hawk Down. You Americans”—he waved his lit cigarette at me—“you’re so tragic at history.””
About This Quote
Source Article: Conflict in Somalia, The New York Times, 2012
The quote critiques U.S. involvement in Somalia, highlighting support for warlords despite negative outcomes.
In simple terms: U.S. backs harmful actors in Somalia.
Key Takeaway
Question foreign policy motives.
Themes
foreign policy
military intervention
ethics
history
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- journalism
- political analysis
- human rights advocacy
Key Concepts
realpolitik
moral hazard
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the unintended consequences of foreign interventions?
- How can accountability be improved?
A Different Perspective
The perspective may oversimplify complex geopolitics.
