Around the world Quote by John Major
““The argument that Saddam Hussein was a bad man and had to be removed simply won't do. There are many bad men around the world who run countries and we don't topple them, and, indeed, in earlier years we actually supported Saddam Hussein when he was fighting Iran. The argument that someone is a bad man is an inadequate argument for war and an unacceptable argument for regime change.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on foreign policy, United Kingdom, 2003
Moral judgments alone cannot justify war; strategic interests and consistency matter more.
In simple terms: Badness isn’t enough reason for war.
Key Takeaway
Consider broader criteria before supporting regime change.
Themes
ethics
foreign policy
war
politics
consistency
Mood
critical
analytical
cautious
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- parliamentary discussions
- international negotiations
- media analysis
Key Concepts
realism
legitimacy
strategic calculus
Questions to Reflect On
- What standards should guide decisions on intervention?
- How can consistency be ensured in foreign policy?
A Different Perspective
Moral arguments may overlook legal and geopolitical complexities.
![“It remains our policy to change the regime until such time as the regime changes itself. So far, we cannot be sure that he is cooperating or he [Saddam Hussein] is acting in a way that could give us comfort, or should give the international community comfort, that he is giving up his weapons of…” quote by Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ce1/colin-powell-691_acting_it-remains-our-policy-to-change-the-regi_1225620.jpg)
![“I don't know about [Rex] Tillerson, but I do know that John Bolton doesn't get it. He still believes in regime change. He's still a big cheerleader for the Iraq war. He's promoted a nuclear attack by Israel on Iran. He wants to do regime change in Iran. So, I think John Bolton is so far out of it…” quote by Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/72a/rand-paul-606_assistants_i-don-t-know-about-rex-tillerson-but-i-d_358090.jpg)
