--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's a tribal state, and it always will…" description: "\"It's a tribal state, and it always will be. Whether we like it or not, whenever we withdraw from Afghanistan, whether it's now or years from now, we'll..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/jon-huntsman-jr-13329_afghanistan_it-s-a-tribal-state-and-it-always-will-b_1229757.png" --- # It's a tribal state, and it always will be. Whether we… ![“It's a tribal state, and it always will be. Whether we like it or not, whenever we withdraw from Afghanistan, whether it's now or years from now, we'll have an incendiary situation. Should we stay and play traffic cop? I don't think that serves our strategic interests.” quote by Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/jon-huntsman-jr-13329_afghanistan_it-s-a-tribal-state-and-it-always-will-b_1229757.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/jon-huntsman-jr-13329_afghanistan_it-s-a-tribal-state-and-it-always-will-b_1229757.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/jon-huntsman-jr-13329_afghanistan_it-s-a-tribal-state-and-it-always-will-b_1229757.png) > “It's a tribal state, and it always will be. Whether we like it or not, whenever we withdraw from Afghanistan, whether it's now or years from now, we'll have an incendiary situation. Should we stay and play traffic cop? I don't think that serves our strategic interests.” [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues that Afghanistan will remain unstable; withdrawing may create chaos, and staying as a peacekeeper is not strategically wise. **In simple terms:** Afghanistan likely stays volatile; staying as a traffic cop isn’t helpful. Key Takeaway Consider strategic withdrawal. Themes geopolitics military strategy regional stability Mood cautious analytical Type political strategic When to use this quote - military engagement - diplomatic negotiations - humanitarian aid Key Concepts state fragility power vacuums foreign policy Questions to Reflect On - Is a limited presence better than none? - What alternative roles could the US play? A Different Perspective May underestimate long‑term consequences of disengagement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) [Afghanistan Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan-years-3798141/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Cop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cop/) [Incendiary Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incendiary-situation-3798142/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Interests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interests/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Serves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serves/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Stay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay/) [Strategic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategic/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Traffic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traffic/) [Tribal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tribal/) [Tribal State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tribal-state-3798140/) [Whenever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whenever/) [Whether](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whether/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [Withdraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/withdraw/) [Withdraw Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/withdraw-afghanistan-1233443/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [The high probability is if American forces withdraw from Afghanistan and if no alternative international arrangement is made that then the historic contests between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kissinger/the-high-probability-is-if-american-forces-withdraw-from-afghanistan/) [Henry Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kissinger/) > [Let's withdraw from Afghanistan and have the army invade America - that's the only way we'll get new schools and roads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-borowitz/let-s-withdraw-from-afghanistan-and-have-the-army-invade-america-that/) [Andy Borowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-borowitz/) > [Swapping Bergdahl for illegal enemy combatants (terrorists, in common parlance) signaled unmistakably to Taliban and al Qaeda that Obama is determined to withdraw from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/swapping-bergdahl-for-illegal-enemy-combatants-terrorists-in-common/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [You could get a cheer by saying: 'Let's withdraw from Afghanistan', but I don't think that's where the public's at. It wouldn't be responsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-balls/you-could-get-a-cheer-by-saying-let-s-withdraw-from-afghanistan-but-i/) [Ed Balls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-balls/) > [From a chollerick man withdraw a little; from him that saies nothing, for ever. \[From a choleric man withdraw a little; from him that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/from-a-chollerick-man-withdraw-a-little-from-him-that-saies-nothing/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [To read is to withdraw.To make oneself unavailable. One would feel easier about it if the pursuit inself were less...selfish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bennett/to-read-is-to-withdraw-to-make-oneself-unavailable-one-would-feel/) [Alan Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bennett/) > [You dont withdraw whatever you dont deposit in bank of life, if you show love you will be loved, if you show care you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juniorjk/you-dont-withdraw-whatever-you-dont-deposit-in-bank-of-life-if-you/) [Juniorjk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juniorjk/) > [When we fall asleep, we withdraw our awareness from its hypnotic fascination with physical sensation, thereby enabling us to listen with our now awakening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-reed/when-we-fall-asleep-we-withdraw-our-awareness-from-its-hypnotic/) [Henry Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-reed/) > [It is a fact of history that those who seek to withdraw from its great experiments usually end up being overwhelmed by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ward-baroness-jackson-of-lodsworth/it-is-a-fact-of-history-that-those-who-seek-to-withdraw-from-its/) [Barbara Ward, Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ward-baroness-jackson-of-lodsworth/) > [“It is quite important to withdraw from all unnecessary cares and business, as far as compatible with the duties of one’s state of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/it-is-quite-important-to-withdraw-from-all-unnecessary-cares-and/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [“The dark might be dark, but at least we don’t have to look at ourselves when we’re standing in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-dark-might-be-dark-but-at-least-we-don-t-have-to-look-at/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I had learned so much about the world that I had decided to withdraw from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/i-had-learned-so-much-about-the-world-that-i-had-decided-to-withdraw/) [Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/) > [“Withdraw into yourself, as far as you can. Associate with those who will make a better man of you. Welcome those whom you yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/withdraw-into-yourself-as-far-as-you-can-associate-with-those-who/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [“No, you are not worthy of the love which I have devoted to you. I knew all along that the prize I had set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/no-you-are-not-worthy-of-the-love-which-i-have-devoted-to-you-i-knew/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [“But both courses are to be avoided; you should not copy the bad simply because they are many, nor should you hate the many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/but-both-courses-are-to-be-avoided-you-should-not-copy-the-bad-simply/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) ## More by Jon Huntsman, Jr > [I come from a long line of saloon keepers and proselytizers, and I draw from both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/i-come-from-a-long-line-of-saloon-keepers-and-proselytizers-and-i/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [Today, I'm a candidate for the office of president of the United States of America. My kids can't believe I just said that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/today-i-m-a-candidate-for-the-office-of-president-of-the-united/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [I was criticized at some level within the Republican Party by those who say government should not be in the economic development business at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/i-was-criticized-at-some-level-within-the-republican-party-by-those/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [This is a time when the United States should be standing tall. There is no other leader in the world today. We shouldn't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/this-is-a-time-when-the-united-states-should-be-standing-tall-there/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [My sense is that we're ready for another industrial revolution in this country. The great minds and innovators of Silicon Valley would come through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/my-sense-is-that-we-re-ready-for-another-industrial-revolution-in/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [I respect the president. He and I have a difference of opinion on how to help the country we both love. But the question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/i-respect-the-president-he-and-i-have-a-difference-of-opinion-on-how/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [In a day and age of global competition and instantaneous financial flows, you have to be highly sensitive to the way in which tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/in-a-day-and-age-of-global-competition-and-instantaneous-financial/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [Our political debates today are corrosive and not reflective of the belief that Abe Lincoln espoused back in his day: that we are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/our-political-debates-today-are-corrosive-and-not-reflective-of-the/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [Economic prosperity and quality education for our children are inexorably linked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/economic-prosperity-and-quality-education-for-our-children-are/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [America is the primary engine of growth in the world and we are the only beacon of free trade left, and open markets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/america-is-the-primary-engine-of-growth-in-the-world-and-we-are-the/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [When America closes its doors, so does everybody else. We are the primary engine of growth in the world and we are the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/when-america-closes-its-doors-so-does-everybody-else-we-are-the/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [In any walk of life, a positive, upbeat outlook trumps any adversarial act. Revenge is counterproductive. Unproductive emotions limit one's ability to move forward,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/in-any-walk-of-life-a-positive-upbeat-outlook-trumps-any-adversarial/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [If we can't find cuts in the defense budget, we're not looking carefully enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/if-we-can-t-find-cuts-in-the-defense-budget-we-re-not-looking/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [But economic recovery must be earned. And it will be earned by entrepreneurs and it will be earned by small businesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/but-economic-recovery-must-be-earned-and-it-will-be-earned-by/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [We're fighting an enemy that is far different than any we have got before. It's a nontraditional kind of war, and I think we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/we-re-fighting-an-enemy-that-is-far-different-than-any-we-have-got/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) [Explore all 51 Jon Huntsman, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) ## More Afghanistan 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/) > [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [They're criminals, they brutalized Afghanistan, they killed our people, they destroyed our land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamid-karzai/they-re-criminals-they-brutalized-afghanistan-they-killed-our-people/) [Hamid Karzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamid-karzai/) > [In 2001, we were told that the war in Afghanistan was a feminist mission. The marines were liberating Afghan women from the Taliban. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/in-2001-we-were-told-that-the-war-in-afghanistan-was-a-feminist/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [The terrorist attacks of September 11th and the courageous actions of our armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq remind us that friends of tyranny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/the-terrorist-attacks-of-september-11th-and-the-courageous-actions-of/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [According to a recent Harvard study, $6 trillion, when you include the ongoing healthcare expenses for our wounded soldiers, which is the least they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/according-to-a-recent-harvard-study-6-trillion-when-you-include-the/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [You don't bargain with terrorists. You don't appease terrorists. And anybody who believes that this is about something we've done has to ask themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/you-don-t-bargain-with-terrorists-you-don-t-appease-terrorists-and/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [“I stood with my mom in the cemetery. She felt terrible pain. My grandmother is with God. My mom has to continue living. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-elliot/i-stood-with-my-mom-in-the-cemetery-she-felt-terrible-pain-my/) [Tucker Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-elliot/) > [The most successful cultural diplomacy strategy integrates people-to-people or arts/culture/media-to-people interactions into the basic business of diplomacy. The programs in Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-p-schneider/the-most-successful-cultural-diplomacy-strategy-integrates-people-to/) [Cynthia P. Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-p-schneider/) > [Because Iran understands Afghanistan far better than Americans do, making Iran a partner in a long-term effort to transform Afghan agriculture makes sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/because-iran-understands-afghanistan-far-better-than-americans-do/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Thousands of Americans have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq upholding their oaths and defending this nation. Chelsea Manning broke her oath and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/thousands-of-americans-have-given-their-lives-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I have been to Afghanistan many times, even before the Taliban collapsed. I was fascinated by the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-khan/i-have-been-to-afghanistan-many-times-even-before-the-taliban/) [Kabir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-khan/) > [There has been sort of, if you will, a moral interventionism on the part of the United States trying to reshape countries in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/there-has-been-sort-of-if-you-will-a-moral-interventionism-on-the/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The legal system in Afghanistan is very immature and porous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/the-legal-system-in-afghanistan-is-very-immature-and-porous/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) [Browse all 1,159 Afghanistan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's a tribal state, and it always will be. 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