--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the invasion began, the British…" description: "\"When the invasion began, the British public was called upon to 'support' troops sent illegally and undemocratically to kill people with whom we had no ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db9/john-pilger-10261_air_when-the-invasion-began-the-british-publ_2143749.jpg" --- # When the invasion began, the British public was called… ![“When the invasion began, the British public was called upon to 'support' troops sent illegally and undemocratically to kill people with whom we had no quarrel. 'The ultimate test of our professionalism' is how Commander McKendrick describes an unprovoked attack on a nation with no submarines, no…” quote by John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db9/john-pilger-10261_air_when-the-invasion-began-the-british-publ_2143749.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db9/john-pilger-10261_air_when-the-invasion-began-the-british-publ_2143749.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db9/john-pilger-10261_air_when-the-invasion-began-the-british-publ_2143749.jpg) > “When the invasion began, the British public was called upon to 'support' troops sent illegally and undemocratically to kill people with whom we had no quarrel. 'The ultimate test of our professionalism' is how Commander McKendrick describes an unprovoked attack on a nation with no submarines, no navy and no air force, and now with no clean water and no electricity and, in many hospitals, no anaesthetic with which to amputate small limbs shredded by shrapnel. I have seen elsewhere how this is done, with a gag in the patient's mouth.” [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. War forces civilians into impossible choices, highlighting moral failures of leaders and the human cost of conflict. **In simple terms:** War creates moral dilemmas and suffering. Key Takeaway Recognize the human impact of war. Themes conflict ethics humanitarianism Mood somber urgent Type political reflective When to use this quote - refugee crises - medical shortages - military decisions Key Concepts war crimes political accountability Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do leaders have to civilians? - How can societies prevent such crises? A Different Perspective Complex geopolitics can obscure responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/) [Air force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air-force/) [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [Clean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clean/) [Clean water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clean-water/) [Commanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commanders/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Electricity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electricity/) [Elsewhere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elsewhere/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Gags](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gags/) [Hospitals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hospitals/) [Illegally Undemocratically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illegally-undemocratically-4475055/) [Invasion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invasion/) [Invasion Began](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invasion-began-959781/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Limbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limbs/) [Mouths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouths/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Navy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/navy/) [Patient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patient/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Professionalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professionalism/) [Quarrels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quarrels/) [Submarines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/submarines/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Support the troops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support-the-troops/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Troops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/troops/) [Ultimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate/) [Undemocratically Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undemocratically-kill-4475054/) [Unprovoked Attack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unprovoked-attack-1057088/) [Usa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usa/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [“THE RUSSIAN INVASION BEGAN A WEEK LATER, WITH A SPATE OF flights producing what NASA described as “mixed results” and Roskosmos termed “an acceptable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-russian-invasion-began-a-week-later-with-a-spate-of-flights/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [I don't believe America will justifiably make an unprovoked attack on another nation. It would not be consistent with what we have been as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-armey/i-don-t-believe-america-will-justifiably-make-an-unprovoked-attack-on/) [Dick Armey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-armey/) > [“Strangely enough, I am beginning to feel like an exile when I go to a polling station in PA and people hold placards approving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josip-novakovich/strangely-enough-i-am-beginning-to-feel-like-an-exile-when-i-go-to-a/) [Josip Novakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josip-novakovich/) > [My wife and I look for ways to always support the troops, including sending care packages regularly to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/my-wife-and-i-look-for-ways-to-always-support-the-troops-including/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [When a guy running for president will not support the troops, not support veterans, not support teachers, that's really important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/when-a-guy-running-for-president-will-not-support-the-troops-not/) [Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/) > [I think you hear a lot of people say 'I support the troops' and all of that, but I really feel deeply that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-gyllenhaal/i-think-you-hear-a-lot-of-people-say-i-support-the-troops-and-all-of/) [Jake Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-gyllenhaal/) > [I honestly think that it automatically hurts me if I said that I supported the war in Iraq and I support the troops. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/i-honestly-think-that-it-automatically-hurts-me-if-i-said-that-i-2/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [Whatever your political affiliation may be, whether you are a conservative or liberal, we should all be bound by the belief that we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-kita/whatever-your-political-affiliation-may-be-whether-you-are-a/) [Candace Kita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-kita/) > [ “The conservatives had started bringing demagoguery to the table on the \[Afghan\] war issue the previous fall \[fall 2006\]. Whenever opposition members criticized the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-martin/the-conservatives-had-started-bringing-demagoguery-to-the-table-on/) [Lawrence Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-martin/) > [Lord, bid war's trumpet cease; Fold the whole earth in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/lord-bid-war-s-trumpet-cease-fold-the-whole-earth-in-peace/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [If there's one thing that unifies the nation in times of perpetual war it's the pledge to 'Support the Troops.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-martin/if-there-s-one-thing-that-unifies-the-nation-in-times-of-perpetual/) [Abby Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-martin/) > [If you hate the war, that’s fine. But you should still support the troops. They don’t get to pick where they’re deployed. They just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/if-you-hate-the-war-that-s-fine-but-you-should-still-support-the/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [I honestly think that it automatically hurts me if I said that I supported the war in Iraq and I support the troops. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/i-honestly-think-that-it-automatically-hurts-me-if-i-said-that-i/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [Don't apologize for being patriotic. Support the troops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-keith/don-t-apologize-for-being-patriotic-support-the-troops/) [Toby Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-keith/) > [Yeah, I volunteered to support the troops, and get out there and show them that we care about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/yeah-i-volunteered-to-support-the-troops-and-get-out-there-and-show/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) ## More by John Pilger > [“Many journalists now are no more than channelers and echoers of what George Orwell called the 'official truth'. They simply cipher and transmit lies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/many-journalists-now-are-no-more-than-channelers-and-echoers-of-what/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Israel is the American watchdog in the Middle East, and that's why the Palestinians remain victims of one of the longest military occupations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/israel-is-the-american-watchdog-in-the-middle-east-and-that-s-why-the/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [In the sublime days before 11 September 2001, when the powerful were routinely attacking and terrorising the weak, and those dying were black or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/in-the-sublime-days-before-11-september-2001-when-the-powerful-were/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Vietnam was as much a laboratory experiment as a war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/vietnam-was-as-much-a-laboratory-experiment-as-a-war/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Certainly, until there is justice for the Palestinians, there will never be any kind of stability in the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/certainly-until-there-is-justice-for-the-palestinians-there-will/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Bill Clinton persuaded some people that he was really a civilized character and his Administration had the best interests of humanity at heart. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/bill-clinton-persuaded-some-people-that-he-was-really-a-civilized/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Israel is the American watchdog in the Middle East, and that's why the Palestinians remain victims of one of the longest military occupations. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/israel-is-the-american-watchdog-in-the-middle-east-and-that-s-why-the-2/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [The censorship is such on television in the U.S. that films like mine don't stand a chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/the-censorship-is-such-on-television-in-the-u-s-that-films-like-mine/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Since September 11, the Mirror has reached back to its roots, and decided, it seems, to be something of its old self again. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/since-september-11-the-mirror-has-reached-back-to-its-roots-and/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Private Manning is the world's pre-eminent prisoner of conscience, having remained true to the Nuremberg principle that every soldier has the right to 'a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/private-manning-is-the-world-s-pre-eminent-prisoner-of-conscience/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [The Mirror has become an important antidote to a media that is, most of it, supportive of the establishment, some of it quite rabidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/the-mirror-has-become-an-important-antidote-to-a-media-that-is-most/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [In Western Australia, minerals are being dug up from Aboriginal land and shipped to China for a profit of a billion dollars a week.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/in-western-australia-minerals-are-being-dug-up-from-aboriginal-land/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Two increasing themes which appear to dominate our listening, reading and watching lives are propaganda and 'national security', or manufactured war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/two-increasing-themes-which-appear-to-dominate-our-listening-reading/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [In these surreal days, there is one truth. Nothing justified the killing of innocent people in America last week and nothing justifies the killing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/in-these-surreal-days-there-is-one-truth-nothing-justified-the/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Orwell is almost our litmus test. Some of his satirical writing looks like reality these days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/orwell-is-almost-our-litmus-test-some-of-his-satirical-writing-looks/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) [Explore all 67 John Pilger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) ## More Air quotes > [I will be a tireless advocate for our District's defense priorities including Sheppard Air Force Base, Pantex, Bell Helicopter, universities conducting important research, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-jackson/i-will-be-a-tireless-advocate-for-our-district-s-defense-priorities/) [Ronny Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-jackson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [If U.S. air, naval, missile, and ground forces were not in and around Korea, and if we were not treaty-bound to fight alongside South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/if-u-s-air-naval-missile-and-ground-forces-were-not-in-and-around/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. The smell of coalsmoke in the air at night. Old times, dead years. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-cooler-days-have-brought-a-wistful-mood-upon-him-the-smell-of/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [I'm a candle flame that sways in currents of air you can't see. You need to be the one who steadies me to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/i-m-a-candle-flame-that-sways-in-currents-of-air-you-can-t-see-you/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) > [It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. 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