---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think in a sense this is a house that…"
description: "\"I think in a sense this is a house that was built on a bad foundation. And the foundation was the Americans coming here and allowing the sacking, burni..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/jon-lee-anderson-28056_allowing_i-think-in-a-sense-this-is-a-house-that_796455.jpg"
---

#  I think in a sense this is a house that was built on a bad…

![“I think in a sense this is a house that was built on a bad foundation. And the foundation was the Americans coming here and allowing the sacking, burning and plunder of Baghdad, for whatever reason.” quote by Jon Lee Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/jon-lee-anderson-28056_allowing_i-think-in-a-sense-this-is-a-house-that_796455.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/jon-lee-anderson-28056_allowing_i-think-in-a-sense-this-is-a-house-that_796455.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/jon-lee-anderson-28056_allowing_i-think-in-a-sense-this-is-a-house-that_796455.jpg)

> “I think in a sense this is a house that was built on a bad foundation. And the foundation was the Americans coming here and allowing the sacking, burning and plunder of Baghdad, for whatever reason.”

[Jon Lee Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lee-anderson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A metaphorical house built on a flawed foundation—American involvement—led to chaos in Baghdad.

**In simple terms:** Bad foundations cause collapse.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and address foundational flaws early.

Themes

politics war historical analysis

Mood

critical reflective

Type

historical analytical

When to use this quote

- policy making
- military strategy
- historical research

Key Concepts

imperialism intervention cultural disruption

Questions to Reflect On

- What underlying factors contributed to the chaos?
- How can future interventions avoid similar foundations?

A Different Perspective

Foundations are complex; blame may oversimplify.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Allowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allowing/) [Baghdad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baghdad/) [Baghdad Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baghdad-reason-6106872/) [Built](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/built/) [Built Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/built-bad-6106873/) [Burning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burning/) [Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [House Built](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house-built-298355/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Plunder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plunder/) [Plunder Baghdad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plunder-baghdad-6106875/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Sacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacking/) [Sacking Burning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacking-burning-6106874/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [They asked me to write it and zoomed me over there to do it. But they ended up sacking me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-campbell/they-asked-me-to-write-it-and-zoomed-me-over-there-to-do-it-but-they/)

[Eddie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-campbell/)

> [I love getting after that quarterback! That's my deal: sacking the quarterback.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaines-adams/i-love-getting-after-that-quarterback-that-s-my-deal-sacking-the/)

[Gaines Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaines-adams/)

> [You take all the offensive linemen and put them in a burlap bag, and then you take a baseball bat and beat on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/you-take-all-the-offensive-linemen-and-put-them-in-a-burlap-bag-and/)

[Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/)

> [At Chelsea, a sacking is just another day at the office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-villas-boas/at-chelsea-a-sacking-is-just-another-day-at-the-office/)

[Andre Villas-Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-villas-boas/)

> [But look what we have built ... This is not the rebuilding of cities. This is the sacking of cities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/but-look-what-we-have-built-this-is-not-the-rebuilding-of-cities-this/)

[Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/)

> [But look what we have built low-income projects that become worse centers of delinquency, vandalism and general social hopelessness than the slums they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/but-look-what-we-have-built-low-income-projects-that-become-worse/)

[Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/)

> [The only argument this president needs to persuade Americans is that sacking Saddam is necessary for the security of America and the West, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-pruden/the-only-argument-this-president-needs-to-persuade-americans-is-that/)

[Wesley Pruden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-pruden/)

> [I developed a term that is used in the game right now called sacking a quarterback. Sacking a quarterback is just like you devastate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/i-developed-a-term-that-is-used-in-the-game-right-now-called-sacking/)

[Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/)

> [Islamic ethics is based on 'limits and proportions,' which means that the answer to an offensive cartoon is a cartoon, not the burning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amir-taheri/islamic-ethics-is-based-on-limits-and-proportions-which-means-that/)

[Amir Taheri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amir-taheri/)

> [It’s not important how we play. If you have a Ferrari and I have a small car, to beat you in a race I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mourinho/it-s-not-important-how-we-play-if-you-have-a-ferrari-and-i-have-a/)

[Jose Mourinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mourinho/)

> [I am sure that hon. members will realize that I am not drawing on my imagination when I state that last fall there were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-douglas/i-am-sure-that-hon-members-will-realize-that-i-am-not-drawing-on-my/)

[Tommy Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-douglas/)

> [Some crimes get honor and renown by being committed with more pomp, by a greater number, and in a higher degree of wickedness thanothers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/some-crimes-get-honor-and-renown-by-being-committed-with-more-pomp-by/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [If you were an ancient barbarian, I bet a real embarrassing thing would be if you were sacking Rome and your cape got caught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/if-you-were-an-ancient-barbarian-i-bet-a-real-embarrassing-thing/)

[Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/)

> [For one thing, before the 20th century, there were plenty of genocides. We tend to forget about them, partly because they weren't as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/for-one-thing-before-the-20th-century-there-were-plenty-of-genocides/)

[Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/)

> [The last thing I'd ever want to see is another manager being sacked. I certainly don't like the phrase 'sacking season.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-moyes/the-last-thing-i-d-ever-want-to-see-is-another-manager-being-sacked-i/)

[David Moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-moyes/)

## More by Jon Lee Anderson

> [How is it possible to live in world where people can rule millions of others? It's incredible! It's like we've gone back to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lee-anderson/how-is-it-possible-to-live-in-world-where-people-can-rule-millions-of/)

[Jon Lee Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lee-anderson/)

> [You need to be hyper-aware because it's your survival at stake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lee-anderson/you-need-to-be-hyper-aware-because-it-s-your-survival-at-stake/)

[Jon Lee Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lee-anderson/)

> [“One day in May 1930, Celia took her twoyear- old son for a swim at the yacht club, but it was already the onset…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lee-anderson/one-day-in-may-1930-celia-took-her-twoyear-old-son-for-a-swim-at-the/)

[jon lee anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lee-anderson/)

> [That's what's terrible about wars when whole societies adopt an impulse of objectification. Everything becomes black and white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lee-anderson/that-s-what-s-terrible-about-wars-when-whole-societies-adopt-an/)

[Jon Lee Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lee-anderson/)

> [“with Ernestito riding on the front of his father’s saddle; and river excursions aboard the Kid, a wooden launch with a four-berth cabin that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lee-anderson/with-ernestito-riding-on-the-front-of-his-father-s-saddle-and-river/)

[jon lee anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lee-anderson/)

> [We live in an extraordinary time, in which one still has the ability to mold opinion. Also, it's up for grabs. Perceptions are up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lee-anderson/we-live-in-an-extraordinary-time-in-which-one-still-has-the-ability/)

[Jon Lee Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lee-anderson/)

> [I think it's deeply important for us to know, especially when we come from the outside, how "ordinary people" think and feel and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lee-anderson/i-think-it-s-deeply-important-for-us-to-know-especially-when-we-come/)

[Jon Lee Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lee-anderson/)

> [Charles Darwin, who had witnessed the atrocities perpetrated against Argentina’s native Indians by Juan Manuel de Rosas, had predicted that “the country will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lee-anderson/charles-darwin-who-had-witnessed-the-atrocities-perpetrated-against/)

[Jon Lee Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lee-anderson/)

> [It is important to know how influential people think and perceive their countrymen, let's say, especially when you are talking about people in power.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lee-anderson/it-is-important-to-know-how-influential-people-think-and-perceive/)

[Jon Lee Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lee-anderson/)

> [Che is not just a potent figure of protest, but the idealistic, questioning kid who exists in every society and every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lee-anderson/che-is-not-just-a-potent-figure-of-protest-but-the-idealistic/)

[Jon Lee Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lee-anderson/)

> [I don't think we would have had to be an occupying power if we had done the right thing in 1991.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lee-anderson/i-don-t-think-we-would-have-had-to-be-an-occupying-power-if-we-had/)

[Jon Lee Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lee-anderson/)

> [Life has become terribly insecure. It's on the vortex of civil war. It's difficult to know how America will bring it back from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lee-anderson/life-has-become-terribly-insecure-it-s-on-the-vortex-of-civil-war-it/)

[Jon Lee Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lee-anderson/)

> [War is just what we do. Yet, of course, the effects of it are repeatedly deeper, then deeper, then deeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lee-anderson/war-is-just-what-we-do-yet-of-course-the-effects-of-it-are-repeatedly/)

[Jon Lee Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lee-anderson/)

> [The mercy caravans are through there the medicine refugees flowing out. It makes the United States look very bad here. And much more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lee-anderson/the-mercy-caravans-are-through-there-the-medicine-refugees-flowing/)

[Jon Lee Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lee-anderson/)

> [The more I've traveled to war zones, the more I'm convinced that the impact and the effects are way beyond anything we can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lee-anderson/the-more-i-ve-traveled-to-war-zones-the-more-i-m-convinced-that-the/)

[Jon Lee Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lee-anderson/)

[Explore all 20 Jon Lee Anderson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lee-anderson/)

## More Allowing quotes

> [New generations of humans inherit the acquired discoveries of generations past, allowing cosmic insight to accumulate without limit. Each discovery of science therefore adds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/new-generations-of-humans-inherit-the-acquired-discoveries-of/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [Is the minor convenience of allowing the present generation the luxury of doubling its energy consumption every 10 years worth the major hazard of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-r-brower/is-the-minor-convenience-of-allowing-the-present-generation-the/)

[David R. Brower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-r-brower/)

> [When you are not honoring the present moment by allowing it to be, you are creating drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/when-you-are-not-honoring-the-present-moment-by-allowing-it-to-be-you/)

[Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/)

> [“Once again I was shamelessly allowing myself to be defined by another person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginny-babcock-kinflicks/once-again-i-was-shamelessly-allowing-myself-to-be-defined-by-another/)

[Ginny Babcock Kinflicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginny-babcock-kinflicks/)

> [Even when I was saying I was Agnostic and trying to figure out my thoughts, I felt God was allowing me to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/even-when-i-was-saying-i-was-agnostic-and-trying-to-figure-out-my/)

[Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/)

> [By allowing multiple partners to contribute, an open platform can nurture an entire ecosystem of developers and apps. Good products integrate and become great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holmes/by-allowing-multiple-partners-to-contribute-an-open-platform-can/)

[Ryan Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holmes/)

> [When you ask for patience, what you get is a line at the bank. In other words, life gives you the people, places, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-mcmillan/when-you-ask-for-patience-what-you-get-is-a-line-at-the-bank-in-other/)

[Tracy McMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-mcmillan/)

> [Sometimes, I get afraid it has defined me, that sense of grief, loss and illness. But actually, it is about allowing myself to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-get-afraid-it-has-defined-me-that-sense-of-grief-loss-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Meditation is actually a very simple exercise in resting in the natural state of your present mind, and allowing yourself to be simply and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yongey-mingyur-rinpoche/meditation-is-actually-a-very-simple-exercise-in-resting-in-the/)

[Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yongey-mingyur-rinpoche/)

> [When you're still, and some actors are really brilliant at that, you bring a kind of energy to you as opposed to sending the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-byrne/when-you-re-still-and-some-actors-are-really-brilliant-at-that-you/)

[Gabriel Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-byrne/)

> [The only reason I would write a break-up song is because my own problem of allowing myself to relate to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zola-jesus/the-only-reason-i-would-write-a-break-up-song-is-because-my-own/)

[Zola Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zola-jesus/)

> [I just think fashion is about enjoying yourself and being comfortable in your skin and allowing you to be you - all the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-scott/i-just-think-fashion-is-about-enjoying-yourself-and-being-comfortable/)

[Jill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-scott/)

> [I don't think there's any harm at all in allowing a kid to fantasize. In fact, I think to stop people from fantasizing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-there-s-any-harm-at-all-in-allowing-a-kid-to-fantasize/)

[J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/)

> [All I wanted to do was put together one of the best home maths systems in the world, and that's what we've done. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-vorderman/all-i-wanted-to-do-was-put-together-one-of-the-best-home-maths/)

[Carol Vorderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-vorderman/)

> [I want to deal with the homeless situation here in Washington, D.C. I think it is a travesty that we've got men - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-deal-with-the-homeless-situation-here-in-washington-d-c-i/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

[Browse all 916 Allowing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allowing/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think in a sense this is a house that was built on a bad foundation. And the foundation was the Americans coming here and allowing the sacking, burning and plunder of Baghdad, for whatever reason.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jon Lee Anderson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lee-anderson/i-think-in-a-sense-this-is-a-house-that-was-built-on-a-bad-foundation/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Allowing"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lee-anderson/i-think-in-a-sense-this-is-a-house-that-was-built-on-a-bad-foundation/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/jon-lee-anderson-28056_allowing_i-think-in-a-sense-this-is-a-house-that_796455.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/jon-lee-anderson-28056_allowing_i-think-in-a-sense-this-is-a-house-that_796455.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/jon-lee-anderson-28056_allowing_i-think-in-a-sense-this-is-a-house-that_796455.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think in a sense this is a house that was built on a bad foundation. And the foundation was the Americans…” — Jon Lee Anderson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jon Lee Anderson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lee-anderson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think in a sense this...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lee-anderson/i-think-in-a-sense-this-is-a-house-that-was-built-on-a-bad-foundation/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lee-anderson/i-think-in-a-sense-this-is-a-house-that-was-built-on-a-bad-foundation/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
