--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: with few apparent connections to…" description: "\"“with few apparent connections to Afghanistan as such, but there were no calls to bomb Riyadh (imagine if the hijackers had been Iraqi). Rather, Saudi ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/mark-curtis-66270_kindlehighlight_with-few-apparent-connections-to-afghani_1708455.jpg" --- # with few apparent connections to Afghanistan as such, but… ![“with few apparent connections to Afghanistan as such, but there were no calls to bomb Riyadh (imagine if the hijackers had been Iraqi). Rather, Saudi Arabia is a favoured ally in the 'war against terrorism'. It is obvious that at stake here are US geopolitical interests (discussed further below)…” quote by Mark Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/mark-curtis-66270_kindlehighlight_with-few-apparent-connections-to-afghani_1708455.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/mark-curtis-66270_kindlehighlight_with-few-apparent-connections-to-afghani_1708455.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/mark-curtis-66270_kindlehighlight_with-few-apparent-connections-to-afghani_1708455.jpg) > ““with few apparent connections to Afghanistan as such, but there were no calls to bomb Riyadh (imagine if the hijackers had been Iraqi). Rather, Saudi Arabia is a favoured ally in the 'war against terrorism'. It is obvious that at stake here are US geopolitical interests (discussed further below), more than concerns to prevent future terrorism.”” [Mark Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-curtis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that US actions are driven by geopolitical interests rather than pure anti‑terrorism motives, especially regarding Saudi Arabia. **In simple terms:** US policy is about politics, not just fighting terror. Key Takeaway Recognize hidden political motives. Themes geopolitics terrorism foreign policy Mood critical analytical Type political analytical When to use this quote - policy analysis - media commentary - academic research Key Concepts realpolitik strategic alliances Questions to Reflect On - How do geopolitical goals shape counter‑terrorism actions? - What are the ethical implications of supporting allies with questionable records? A Different Perspective US interests may be overstated, ignoring humanitarian concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arabia Favoured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arabia-favoured-1223210/) [Bomb Riyadh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bomb-riyadh-1223211/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Kindlehighlight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindlehighlight/) [Saudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saudi/) [Saudi arabia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saudi-arabia/) [War Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-terrorism/) ## Related quotes > [“The standard argument is that civilian deaths in Afghanistan were the regrettable consequence of military action that was needed to destroy Al Qaida bases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-curtis/the-standard-argument-is-that-civilian-deaths-in-afghanistan-were-the/) [Mark Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-curtis/) > [“I believe that the children of this generation have decayed with the ease of their lives, and that their great fortune has deprived them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-sasson/i-believe-that-the-children-of-this-generation-have-decayed-with-the/) [Jean Sasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-sasson/) > [If someone doesn't like Saudi Arabia's human rights record, that doesn't mean that you are in any way attacking Muslims. You're attacking a government's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagmeet-singh/if-someone-doesn-t-like-saudi-arabia-s-human-rights-record-that-doesn/) [Jagmeet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jagmeet-singh/) > [Making Saudi Arabia a world judge on women's rights and religious freedom would be like naming a pyromaniac as the town fire chief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillel-neuer/making-saudi-arabia-a-world-judge-on-women-s-rights-and-religious/) [Hillel Neuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillel-neuer/) > [Other places are also generators of far-flung violence beyond their own borders - Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are obvious examples - but none has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/other-places-are-also-generators-of-far-flung-violence-beyond-their/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [If Iran obtains nuclear weapons, then almost certainly Saudi Arabia will do the same, as will Egypt, Turkey and perhaps others in the region.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/if-iran-obtains-nuclear-weapons-then-almost-certainly-saudi-arabia/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [Saudi Arabia has allowed training on its soil of American forces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/saudi-arabia-has-allowed-training-on-its-soil-of-american-forces/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Over the last few years they have done a superb job in their fight against al-Qaida. 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It is a modern Gilead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-eltahawy/saudi-arabia-isn-t-just-a-conservative-country-with-different-values/) [Mona Eltahawy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-eltahawy/) > [Saudi Arabia has historically attempted to influence politics in Beirut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/saudi-arabia-has-historically-attempted-to-influence-politics-in/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [In Saudi Arabia, among other countries, Muslims are not free to convert to Christianity, and Christians are not free to practice their faith. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-warraq/in-saudi-arabia-among-other-countries-muslims-are-not-free-to-convert/) [Ibn Warraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-warraq/) > [America is the Saudi Arabia of coal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/america-is-the-saudi-arabia-of-coal/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) ## More by Mark Curtis > [“A Guardian investigation concluded that between 10,000 and 20,000 people died as an 'indirect' result of the US bombing, that is, through hunger, cold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-curtis/a-guardian-investigation-concluded-that-between-10-000-and-20-000/) [Mark Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-curtis/) > [“The usual fiction – that the war would involve precision targeting and the careful avoidance of civilian deaths – was stated by Tony Blair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-curtis/the-usual-fiction-that-the-war-would-involve-precision-targeting-and/) [Mark Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-curtis/) > [“The standard argument is that civilian deaths in Afghanistan were the regrettable consequence of military action that was needed to destroy Al Qaida bases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-curtis/the-standard-argument-is-that-civilian-deaths-in-afghanistan-were-the/) [Mark Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-curtis/) [Explore all 4 Mark Curtis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-curtis/) ## More Israel quotes > [Humanitarian goods and people must flow in both directions. 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Everything is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-colla/in-the-green-zone-in-iraq-you-have-your-radio-you-have-your-food-you/) [Elliott Colla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-colla/) > [ \[Islam\] Leaves no room of human legislation in an Islamic state, because herein all legislative functions vest in God and the only function left… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abul-a-la-maududi/islam-leaves-no-room-of-human-legislation-in-an-islamic-state-because/) [Abul A'la Maududi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abul-a-la-maududi/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [On the McLaughlin Report, August 26, 1990: 'There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the middle East, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/on-the-mclaughlin-report-august-26-1990-there-are-only-two-groups/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [“Hitler invaded Poland on 1 September 1939. Much to the bafflement of the Allies, however, Pope Pius XII said nothing. He refused to condemn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyrus-shahrad/hitler-invaded-poland-on-1-september-1939-much-to-the-bafflement-of/) [Cyrus Shahrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyrus-shahrad/) > [A strong, responsible Israel can become a stabilizer in such a turbulent region.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/a-strong-responsible-israel-can-become-a-stabilizer-in-such-a/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. 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One regional German government after another was toppled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cross-giblin/all-germany-was-in-turmoil-revolutionaries-seized-power-in-the-cities/) [James Cross Giblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cross-giblin/) [Browse all 16,724 Israel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“with few apparent connections to Afghanistan as such, but there were no calls to bomb Riyadh (imagine if the hijackers had been Iraqi). Rather, Saudi Arabia is a favoured ally in the 'war against terrorism'. 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