--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I mean, all of these things that [Bashar…" description: "\"I mean, all of these things that [Bashar Assad] has done, there's no way even if President Obama wanted to just play along that you could actually achi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfd/john-f-kerry-996_accepting_i-mean-all-of-these-things-that-bashar-a_3077391.png" --- # I mean, all of these things that \[Bashar Assad\] has done… ![“I mean, all of these things that [Bashar Assad] has done, there's no way even if President Obama wanted to just play along that you could actually achieve peace, because there are 65 million Sunni in between Baghdad and the border of Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, who will never, ever again accept Assad…” quote by John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfd/john-f-kerry-996_accepting_i-mean-all-of-these-things-that-bashar-a_3077391.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfd/john-f-kerry-996_accepting_i-mean-all-of-these-things-that-bashar-a_3077391.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfd/john-f-kerry-996_accepting_i-mean-all-of-these-things-that-bashar-a_3077391.png) > “I mean, all of these things that \[Bashar Assad\] has done, there's no way even if President Obama wanted to just play along that you could actually achieve peace, because there are 65 million Sunni in between Baghdad and the border of Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, who will never, ever again accept Assad as a member - as a legitimate leader.” [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Peace is impossible given deep sectarian divisions and massive Sunni population opposing Assad. **In simple terms:** Sectarian divide blocks peace. Key Takeaway Address underlying grievances for lasting resolution. Themes politics conflict sectarianism Mood cautious analytical Type political strategic When to use this quote - diplomacy - humanitarian aid - regional security - media analysis Key Concepts Realpolitik identity politics Questions to Reflect On - Can inclusive governance reduce sectarian hostility? - What role can civil society play in bridging divides? A Different Perspective Peace efforts may overlook grassroots reconciliation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-assad-5234064/) [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assad/) [Assad Member](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assad-member-5234065/) [Baghdad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baghdad/) [Borders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borders/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Members](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/members/) [Million Sunni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million-sunni-5234066/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-obama/) [Syria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syria/) [Syria Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syria-iraq-5234067/) [Things Bashar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-bashar-5234068/) [Turkeys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turkeys/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Russia isn't likely to have any more military success in Syria and Iraq than has the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ignatius/russia-isn-t-likely-to-have-any-more-military-success-in-syria-and/) [David Ignatius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ignatius/) > [ 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/) > [The migrant question is directly linked to the crisis in Syria and Iraq.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/the-migrant-question-is-directly-linked-to-the-crisis-in-syria-and/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [ People talk about \[Bashar\] Assad running Syria. He doesn't control his own country. He's down to about 20, 25 percent of the country. What… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/people-talk-about-bashar-assad-running-syria-he-doesn-t-control-his/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [ Sunni are the majority of the \[Syria\], 60 to 65 percent. They've been ruled by \[Bashar\] Assad, who represents a minority Alawite element, which… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/sunni-are-the-majority-of-the-syria-60-to-65-percent-they-ve-been/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [ \[Bashar\] Assad has made a series of choices ever since then that is literally destroying his country. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/bashar-assad-has-made-a-series-of-choices-ever-since-then-that-is/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [ Three-quarters of \[Bashar Assad\] country is displaced. It's in Jordan, it's in Lebanon, it's in Turkey, and in the desert. The threat is that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/three-quarters-of-bashar-assad-country-is-displaced-it-s-in-jordan-it/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [ If you can resolve this transition of \[Bashar\] Assad, that is absolutely possible, but you have to have a clarity for everybody about the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/if-you-can-resolve-this-transition-of-bashar-assad-that-is-absolutely/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [ \[Bashar\] Assad himself has said on several occasions recently that if the people of Syria don't believe I should be there in the future,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/bashar-assad-himself-has-said-on-several-occasions-recently-that-if/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [ If Russia is there \[in Syria\] alone fighting them \[ISIL\], guess what? Russia becomes the target and Russia starts seeing - who knows -… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/if-russia-is-there-in-syria-alone-fighting-them-isil-guess-what/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [ If \[Bashar\] Assad himself could save this whole process by saying, "I will engage in a managed transition where we all work together to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/if-bashar-assad-himself-could-save-this-whole-process-by-saying-i/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [ You cannot bring peace in Syria as long as \[Bashar\] Assad is, in fact, there. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/you-cannot-bring-peace-in-syria-as-long-as-bashar-assad-is-in-fact/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [ And if \[Vladimir Putin\] does fight ISIL alone, how does it work out for Russia to have sided with Assad, sided with Iran, sided… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/and-if-vladimir-putin-does-fight-isil-alone-how-does-it-work-out-for/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Assad's mother was a terror. He was terrified of her and she kept saying to him, you're not like your father. That's interesting, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/assad-s-mother-was-a-terror-he-was-terrified-of-her-and-she-kept/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [We could have made peace with Syrian dictator Bashar Assad a long time ago. It didn't happen, because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/we-could-have-made-peace-with-syrian-dictator-bashar-assad-a-long/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) ## More by John F. Kerry > [I am sympathetic to developing countries’ concerns: because of our emissions it’s their crops that will disappear; because of our inaction, it’s their fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-sympathetic-to-developing-countries-concerns-because-of-our/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [The fact is that in too many parts of our country, we still have discrimination. And affirmative action is not just something that applies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/the-fact-is-that-in-too-many-parts-of-our-country-we-still-have/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [ People talk about \[Bashar\] Assad running Syria. He doesn't control his own country. He's down to about 20, 25 percent of the country. What… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/people-talk-about-bashar-assad-running-syria-he-doesn-t-control-his/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [I'm an internationalist. I'd like to see our troops dispersed through the world only at the directive of the United Nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-m-an-internationalist-i-d-like-to-see-our-troops-dispersed-through/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [ You cannot bring peace in Syria as long as \[Bashar\] Assad is, in fact, there. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/you-cannot-bring-peace-in-syria-as-long-as-bashar-assad-is-in-fact/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [There's an agreement that Syria should be a unified country, united; that it needs to be secular; that ISIL needs to be taken on;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/there-s-an-agreement-that-syria-should-be-a-unified-country-united/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [It's very hard to get other countries to give up their weapons when you're busy developing a new one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/it-s-very-hard-to-get-other-countries-to-give-up-their-weapons-when/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [There is no bigger judgment for a president of the United States than how you take a nation to war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/there-is-no-bigger-judgment-for-a-president-of-the-united-states-than/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [I have confidence in my campaign. I have assembled a great team that is going to beat George W. Bush, and any rumors to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-have-confidence-in-my-campaign-i-have-assembled-a-great-team-that/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [In a few years, you should be able to plug your American-made plug-in hybrid into the outlet in your garage, so that you never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/in-a-few-years-you-should-be-able-to-plug-your-american-made-plug-in/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Unlike Washington, which is stuck in ideological gridlock, Americans feel the impact of climate change in their own hometowns and they know something must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/unlike-washington-which-is-stuck-in-ideological-gridlock-americans/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [America must always be the world's paramount military power, but we can magnify our power through alliances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/america-must-always-be-the-world-s-paramount-military-power-but-we/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [We should not allow a tiny minority of shoddy scientists and science and extreme ideologues to compete with scientific facts,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/we-should-not-allow-a-tiny-minority-of-shoddy-scientists-and-science/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Jesus did not help just the sick who could afford to pay for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/jesus-did-not-help-just-the-sick-who-could-afford-to-pay-for-it/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [War should be not a war of choice; it should be a war of necessity. And it should be a last resort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/war-should-be-not-a-war-of-choice-it-should-be-a-war-of-necessity-and/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) [Explore all 312 John F. Kerry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I mean, all of these things that [Bashar Assad] has done, there's no way even if President Obama wanted to just play along that you could actually achieve peace, because there are 65 million Sunni in between Baghdad and the border of Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, who will never, ever again accept Assad as a member - as a legitimate leader.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John F. 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