Assad Quote by Lindsey Graham
“In the eyes of the Iranians, they don't respect or fear Barack Obama. He drew a line against Assad when he used chemical weapons and did nothing about it. And our friends, the Arabs and the Israelis, don't trust President Obama.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Senate floor, 2014
The speaker claims Iranians and Arab allies distrust Obama despite his actions on Assad.
In simple terms: Critics say Obama lacked respect and trust in the Middle East.
Key Takeaway
Question foreign policy effectiveness and perception.
Themes
politics
trust
foreign policy
Middle East
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
commentary
When to use this quote
- election debates
- policy analysis
- international relations
Key Concepts
diplomacy
leadership
Questions to Reflect On
- How do actions shape trust?
- What are other factors influencing perception?
A Different Perspective
Complex geopolitics cannot be reduced to single narratives.
![“Luckily for [Barack] Obama, the Russians came along and rescued him with this proposal [to confiscate Assad's chemical weapons] which he quickly accepted - it was a way out of the embarrassment of facing likely defeat. They still have the option of bombing if they want to. And incidentally, to add…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e47/noam-chomsky-42_accepted_luckily-for-barack-obama-the-russians-ca_2388051.jpg)
![“The other thing I said is the great irony is you will be back fighting against your own weapons. Had [Bashar] Assad been bombed when he used chemical weapons two years ago, ISIS would be in charge of all of Syria now.” quote by Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6ca/rand-paul-606_assad_the-other-thing-i-said-is-the-great-iron_1664725.jpg)
![“What is true is [Bashar] Assad got rid of his chemical weapons.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/47d/barack-obama-17_assad_what-is-true-is-bashar-assad-got-rid-of_675441.jpg)
![“People talk about [Bashar] Assad running Syria. He doesn't control his own country. He's down to about 20, 25 percent of the country. What is this fiction that he is somehow the only person who can save Syria? There's - with Assad there, there is no Syria. So that's what the Iranians and the…” quote by John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f3d/john-f-kerry-996_assad_people-talk-about-bashar-assad-running-s_24339.jpg)
![“You cannot bring peace in Syria as long as [Bashar] Assad is, in fact, there.” quote by John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/41d/john-f-kerry-996_assad_you-cannot-bring-peace-in-syria-as-long_56711.jpg)
![“We have to do one thing at a time. We can't be fighting ISIS and fighting [Bashar]Assad. Assad is fighting ISIS. He is fighting ISIS. Russia is fighting now ISIS. And Iran is fighting ISIS.” quote by Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bca/donald-trump-18_assad_we-have-to-do-one-thing-at-a-time-we-can_115458.jpg)
![“[Bashar] Assad is one of the main reasons why ISIS even exists to begin with. Assad is a puppet of Iran.” quote by Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8b6/marco-rubio-355_assad_bashar-assad-is-one-of-the-main-reasons_154139.jpg)
![“I think those who have wanted regime [of Bashar Assad] change have made a mistake.” quote by Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6b2/rand-paul-606_assad_i-think-those-who-have-wanted-regime-of_280205.jpg)
![“If [Bashar] Assad himself could save this whole process by saying, "I will engage in a managed transition where we all work together to stabilize the government, save the institutions of government, and turn on ISIL and preserve Syria." That could happen. It all depends on one man, and Russia and…” quote by John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/999/john-f-kerry-996_assad_if-bashar-assad-himself-could-save-this_309200.jpg)
![“If we topple [Bashar] Assad, the result will be ISIS will take over Syria, and it will worsen U.S. national security interests.” quote by Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0c0/ted-cruz-487_assad_if-we-topple-bashar-assad-the-result-wil_328595.jpg)
![“Every chance at destabilizing [Bashar] Assad... the bombing campaign causes a flood of refugees into Jordan, there's already half a million in Jordan. I think a bombing campaign - I think it's hard to argue that a U.S. bombing campaign is going to cause less refugees. And I think it causes more…” quote by Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e12/rand-paul-606_all-kinds_every-chance-at-destabilizing-bashar-ass_336474.jpg)
![“I'll tell you whose view on [Bashar] Assad is the same as mine. It's Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu. Prime Minister Netanyahu has said Israel doesn't have a dog in that fight because Assad is a puppet of Iran, a Shia radical Islamic terrorist, but at the same time, Prime Minister Netanyahu…” quote by Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/574/ted-cruz-487_assad_i-ll-tell-you-whose-view-on-bashar-assad_363189.jpg)