--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think you also understand that one of…" description: "\"I think you also understand that one of the key things that's got to be done in Iraq is to build a mentality of understanding that the military needs t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/john-abizaid-16647_done_i-think-you-also-understand-that-one-of_1159947.jpg" --- # I think you also understand that one of the key things… ![“I think you also understand that one of the key things that's got to be done in Iraq is to build a mentality of understanding that the military needs to be subordinate to civilian control and respectful of its own people.” quote by John Abizaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/john-abizaid-16647_done_i-think-you-also-understand-that-one-of_1159947.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/john-abizaid-16647_done_i-think-you-also-understand-that-one-of_1159947.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/john-abizaid-16647_done_i-think-you-also-understand-that-one-of_1159947.jpg) > “I think you also understand that one of the key things that's got to be done in Iraq is to build a mentality of understanding that the military needs to be subordinate to civilian control and respectful of its own people.” [John Abizaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-abizaid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Civilian oversight of the military is essential for democratic governance and respect for citizens, requiring cultural shift and policy reforms. **In simple terms:** Military must answer to civilians and respect the people it serves. Key Takeaway Promote civilian control in defense policies. Themes democracy civil-military relations respect Mood cautious hopeful Type strategic inspirational When to use this quote - post‑conflict reconstruction - defense planning - human rights advocacy Key Concepts governance policy cultural change Questions to Reflect On - How can civilian leaders build trust with the military? - What mechanisms ensure accountability? A Different Perspective Balancing security needs with civilian authority can be politically sensitive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Mentality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentality/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Respectful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respectful/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [This we must say, that everything is economics and economic interest as mere satisfaction of physical needs had, have and always will have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-evola/this-we-must-say-that-everything-is-economics-and-economic-interest/) [Julius Evola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-evola/) > [It is of first importance that the military be subordinate to civilian government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/it-is-of-first-importance-that-the-military-be-subordinate-to/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [We need to be doing lots of other things with the resources that we have. So economic power works just as well as military…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/we-need-to-be-doing-lots-of-other-things-with-the-resources-that-we/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [In order to stand up to China, Russia, and terrorists, our military needs to project strength, not cultural wokeness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-boebert/in-order-to-stand-up-to-china-russia-and-terrorists-our-military/) [Lauren Boebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-boebert/) > [Remember, it is the president's constitutional duty to provide a strong national defense. Don't insert politics into national security. Listen to your ground commanders.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/remember-it-is-the-president-s-constitutional-duty-to-provide-a/) [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) > [I will uphold the principle of civilian control of the military as intended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/i-will-uphold-the-principle-of-civilian-control-of-the-military-as/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [When cutting staff at the Pentagon, don't eliminate the thin layer that assures civilian control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/when-cutting-staff-at-the-pentagon-don-t-eliminate-the-thin-layer/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [If there is one basic element in our Constitution, it is civilian control of the military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/if-there-is-one-basic-element-in-our-constitution-it-is-civilian/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [The Secretary of Defense is not a super General or Admiral. His task is to exercise civilian control over the Department for the Commander-in-Chief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/the-secretary-of-defense-is-not-a-super-general-or-admiral-his-task/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [The Pentagon is supposed to be under civilian control and it ought to be up to the people of the United States, not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/the-pentagon-is-supposed-to-be-under-civilian-control-and-it-ought-to/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) > [The safety and security of our democracy demands competent civilian control of our armed forces, the subordination of military power to the civil. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/the-safety-and-security-of-our-democracy-demands-competent-civilian/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [It's important. One of the principles in the United States is civilian control of the military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-clark/it-s-important-one-of-the-principles-in-the-united-states-is-civilian/) [Wesley Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-clark/) > [“The clear suggestion is that there ought not to be civilian control of the military. What have callow noncombatants giving brisk orders to grizzled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-clear-suggestion-is-that-there-ought-not-to-be-civilian-control/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I really believe in non-violence, but I also believe in a short of resistance that has to be respectful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-paul/i-really-believe-in-non-violence-but-i-also-believe-in-a-short-of/) [Alexandra Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-paul/) > [I've always been a respectful kind of guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-volkanovski/i-ve-always-been-a-respectful-kind-of-guy/) [Alexander Volkanovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-volkanovski/) ## More by John Abizaid > [But as we move from this period of what many Iraqis regard as perceived occupation, we need to move towards one of partnership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-abizaid/but-as-we-move-from-this-period-of-what-many-iraqis-regard-as/) [John Abizaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-abizaid/) > [Capturing any member of any terrorist cell or any insurgent cell that we may happen to come across is always very, very valuable, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-abizaid/capturing-any-member-of-any-terrorist-cell-or-any-insurgent-cell-that/) [John Abizaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-abizaid/) > [As far as Zarqawi is concerned, there is a network of extremists; it's not just Zarqawi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-abizaid/as-far-as-zarqawi-is-concerned-there-is-a-network-of-extremists-it-s/) [John Abizaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-abizaid/) > [And over time, I think, as Iraqi security capacity builds, you'll see American and coalition presence there decline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-abizaid/and-over-time-i-think-as-iraqi-security-capacity-builds-you-ll-see/) [John Abizaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-abizaid/) > [The United States is the most powerful nation on Earth and it just can't walk away from the Middle East and central Asia and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-abizaid/the-united-states-is-the-most-powerful-nation-on-earth-and-it-just/) [John Abizaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-abizaid/) > [Clearly the Secretary of Defense, my boss, would like nothing better than to get Osama bin Laden and to get... to ensure the complete…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-abizaid/clearly-the-secretary-of-defense-my-boss-would-like-nothing-better/) [John Abizaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-abizaid/) > [You know as well as I do that counterinsurgency is a very nuanced type of military operation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-abizaid/you-know-as-well-as-i-do-that-counterinsurgency-is-a-very-nuanced/) [John Abizaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-abizaid/) > [But my Arabic is pretty good. It's good enough to have conversations with people, to understand what they say, to understand what they're feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-abizaid/but-my-arabic-is-pretty-good-it-s-good-enough-to-have-conversations/) [John Abizaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-abizaid/) > [We need to make it very clear to the Iranians, the same way we made it clear to the Soviet Union and China, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-abizaid/we-need-to-make-it-very-clear-to-the-iranians-the-same-way-we-made-it/) [John Abizaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-abizaid/) > [And so I think that if the person has the funds, the network, and the equipment to do this, and also the experience, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-abizaid/and-so-i-think-that-if-the-person-has-the-funds-the-network-and-the/) [John Abizaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-abizaid/) > [The power to prevent violence is a power that no police force seems to have anywhere in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-abizaid/the-power-to-prevent-violence-is-a-power-that-no-police-force-seems/) [John Abizaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-abizaid/) > [So, these political activities will create friction in and of themselves, and in this environment of friction there'll be additional violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-abizaid/so-these-political-activities-will-create-friction-in-and-of/) [John Abizaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-abizaid/) > [It's also natural in that part of the world to blame what people view as the... as the most important authority in the region,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-abizaid/it-s-also-natural-in-that-part-of-the-world-to-blame-what-people-view/) [John Abizaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-abizaid/) > [But I am satisfied that the information that we have that this is the work of Zarqawi, is accurate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-abizaid/but-i-am-satisfied-that-the-information-that-we-have-that-this-is-the/) [John Abizaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-abizaid/) > [Morale is good; troops are confident; leaders are capable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-abizaid/morale-is-good-troops-are-confident-leaders-are-capable/) [John Abizaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-abizaid/) [Explore all 39 John Abizaid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-abizaid/) ## More Done quotes > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. 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