--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So a truthful assessment of how America…" description: "\"So a truthful assessment of how America is doing in the war on terror as a result of President Bush's war on Iraq is that we have been set back by deca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b41/john-olver-26593_america_so-a-truthful-assessment-of-how-america_15738.png" --- # So a truthful assessment of how America is doing in the… ![“So a truthful assessment of how America is doing in the war on terror as a result of President Bush's war on Iraq is that we have been set back by decades.” quote by John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b41/john-olver-26593_america_so-a-truthful-assessment-of-how-america_15738.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b41/john-olver-26593_america_so-a-truthful-assessment-of-how-america_15738.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b41/john-olver-26593_america_so-a-truthful-assessment-of-how-america_15738.png) > “So a truthful assessment of how America is doing in the war on terror as a result of President Bush's war on Iraq is that we have been set back by decades.” [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The war in Iraq undermined U.S. counterterrorism effectiveness, reversing progress made over decades. **In simple terms:** Iraq war set back anti‑terrorism efforts. Key Takeaway War on Iraq compromised security gains. Themes war on terror policy consequences national security strategic missteps historical impact Mood critical cautious reflective Type political analytical When to use this quote - policy analysis - security briefings - academic research - media commentary - public debate Key Concepts counterterrorism foreign policy military intervention political accountability Practical Applications - strategic reviews - defense planning Questions to Reflect On - How did Iraq affect broader security goals? - What alternatives existed? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-doing-381349/) [Assessment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assessment/) [Bush War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bush-war-381350/) [Decades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decades/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Set Decades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/set-decades-381351/) [Terror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terror/) [Truthful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truthful/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-iraq/) [War Terror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-terror/) ## Related quotes > [The difference between the Bush I war against Iraq and the Bush II war against Iraq is that in the first one, we appealed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-difference-between-the-bush-i-war-against-iraq-and-the-bush-ii/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Bush's war in Iraq has done untold damage to the United States. It has impaired our military power and undermined the morale of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/bush-s-war-in-iraq-has-done-untold-damage-to-the-united-states-it-has/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [President Bush's war on Iraq is viewed broadly in Islamic communities as an attack on Islam, and thus the President has alienated a large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/president-bush-s-war-on-iraq-is-viewed-broadly-in-islamic-communities/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [The conduct of President Bush's war of choice has been plagued with incompetent civilian leadership decisions that have cost many lives and rendered the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/the-conduct-of-president-bush-s-war-of-choice-has-been-plagued-with/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [The President reminded us that the war in Iraq is a central battlefield in the war on terror that began the morning of September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-president-reminded-us-that-the-war-in-iraq-is-a-central/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [America has lost the moral high ground with the rest of the world, and we have fewer allies as a result. President Bush and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/america-has-lost-the-moral-high-ground-with-the-rest-of-the-world-and/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [At a time when America should be doing everything we can to lead the fight to defeat ISIS and other radical jihadists, Donald Trump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/at-a-time-when-america-should-be-doing-everything-we-can-to-lead-the/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [We see that Pakistan is continuing to provide safe harbor havens inside of Pakistan for terrorists who present risks to the United States of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pompeo/we-see-that-pakistan-is-continuing-to-provide-safe-harbor-havens/) [Mike Pompeo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pompeo/) > [I mean, in terms of alternatives, some people have suggested for example that why don't we - why isn't America doing what Berkshire Hathaway…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-mean-in-terms-of-alternatives-some-people-have-suggested-for/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Here in America we're doing the most wonderful crafts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beatrice-wood/here-in-america-we-re-doing-the-most-wonderful-crafts/) [Beatrice Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beatrice-wood/) > [I wish America was doing half as well as Captain America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wish-america-was-doing-half-as-well-as-captain-america/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Modern neuroimaging is like asking an astronaut in the space shuttle to look out the window and judge how America is doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eagleman/modern-neuroimaging-is-like-asking-an-astronaut-in-the-space-shuttle/) [David Eagleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eagleman/) > [I don't think that you can dispose of the constructive and inventive things that America is doing - and say, "Oh we aren't doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/i-don-t-think-that-you-can-dispose-of-the-constructive-and-inventive/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [My belief in why America has been doing so well up to now is that we have been propelled by our immigrants and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/my-belief-in-why-america-has-been-doing-so-well-up-to-now-is-that-we/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [You know, it's fashionable right now for people to be cynical. We go in cycles like this and right now a lot of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/you-know-it-s-fashionable-right-now-for-people-to-be-cynical-we-go-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More by John Olver > [Clearly, a stable, unified and democratic Iraq cannot be achieved militarily by the U.S.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/clearly-a-stable-unified-and-democratic-iraq-cannot-be-achieved/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [In this age of globalization, instant real time media and television, everyone all over the world realizes that high energy usage equates with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/in-this-age-of-globalization-instant-real-time-media-and-television/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [In the remaining months, we should focus on achieving more robust international involvement in training of Iraqi soldiers, police officers, judges, teachers, and doctors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/in-the-remaining-months-we-should-focus-on-achieving-more-robust/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [Since 1850, burning of fossil fuels, coal, oil and natural gas has increased 100 times to produce energy as the world has industrialized to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/since-1850-burning-of-fossil-fuels-coal-oil-and-natural-gas-has/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [We all know that China is industrializing at a growth rate of 8 to 10 percent per year. China is on track to pass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/we-all-know-that-china-is-industrializing-at-a-growth-rate-of-8-to-10/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [We need to make it clear that we will withdraw from Iraq within 6 to 9 months - so that the Iraqis will know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/we-need-to-make-it-clear-that-we-will-withdraw-from-iraq-within-6-to/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [As this body of knowledge has evolved, a much more critical job for researchers and scientists has evolved into explaining and educating policy makers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/as-this-body-of-knowledge-has-evolved-a-much-more-critical-job-for/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [President Bush's war on Iraq is viewed broadly in Islamic communities as an attack on Islam, and thus the President has alienated a large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/president-bush-s-war-on-iraq-is-viewed-broadly-in-islamic-communities/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [The military's own report says that one-third of deaths and casualties could have been avoided if proper body armor and vehicle armor had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/the-military-s-own-report-says-that-one-third-of-deaths-and/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [The scientists who do climate research understand that much of the ever increasing concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere since 1850 must be attributed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/the-scientists-who-do-climate-research-understand-that-much-of-the/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [America has also forever lost the service of thousands of good soldiers who are now disabled as a result of battle wounds in Iraq.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/america-has-also-forever-lost-the-service-of-thousands-of-good/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [The industrialization of China alone would increase by 90 percent the concentration of CO2 in our atmosphere and would at least increase the atmospheric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/the-industrialization-of-china-alone-would-increase-by-90-percent-the/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [The most extreme individuals and factions in Islamic countries are now more motivated than ever to kill Americans, and the number of potential terrorists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/the-most-extreme-individuals-and-factions-in-islamic-countries-are/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [Yet, if we accept the solution offered today by this bill to explore and develop for oil on the coastal plain of ANWR, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/yet-if-we-accept-the-solution-offered-today-by-this-bill-to-explore/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [As a scientist, my attention became totally focused on global warming some 15 years ago by the elegant and powerful measurements of carbon dioxide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/as-a-scientist-my-attention-became-totally-focused-on-global-warming/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) [Explore all 21 John Olver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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