--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think [Bush] would like to hand his…" description: "\"I think [Bush] would like to hand his father Saddam Hussein's head and win his approval for what happened after the Gulf War.\" — Martin Sheen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/martin-sheen-7550_approval_i-think-bush-would-like-to-hand-his-fath_2668024.jpg" --- # I think \[Bush\] would like to hand his father Saddam… ![“I think [Bush] would like to hand his father Saddam Hussein's head and win his approval for what happened after the Gulf War.” quote by Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/martin-sheen-7550_approval_i-think-bush-would-like-to-hand-his-fath_2668024.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/martin-sheen-7550_approval_i-think-bush-would-like-to-hand-his-fath_2668024.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/martin-sheen-7550_approval_i-think-bush-would-like-to-hand-his-fath_2668024.jpg) > “I think \[Bush\] would like to hand his father Saddam Hussein's head and win his approval for what happened after the Gulf War.” [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker suggests that Bush would seek Saddam Hussein's approval, implying a desire for validation from a former adversary. **In simple terms:** Bush might crave Saddam's approval. Key Takeaway Beware of seeking validation from former enemies. Themes politics validation conflict Mood skeptical critical Type analytical controversial When to use this quote - political negotiations - post‑war reconciliation - public statements - media analysis Key Concepts power dynamics historical irony personal approval Questions to Reflect On - Why would a leader seek approval from a former foe? - What are the risks of publicizing such desires? A Different Perspective Such a claim may oversimplify complex political motives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) [Bush Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bush-like-487057/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Father Saddam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-saddam-2481191/) [Gulf war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gulf-war/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Happened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happened/) [Hussein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hussein/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Saddam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saddam/) [Saddam hussein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saddam-hussein/) [Think Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-bush-253363/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/so-the-threat-of-saddam-hussein-with-weapons-of-mass-destruction-is/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [If left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-left-unchecked-saddam-hussein-will-continue-to-increase-his/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [It has been, after all, 11 years, more than a decade now, of defiance of U.N. resolutions by Saddam Hussein. Every obligation that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/it-has-been-after-all-11-years-more-than-a-decade-now-of-defiance-of/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapon stock,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/in-the-four-years-since-the-inspectors-left-intelligence-reports-show/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime ... He presents a particularly grievous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/without-question-we-need-to-disarm-saddam-hussein-he-is-a-brutal/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [There is no doubt that . Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-graham/there-is-no-doubt-that-saddam-hussein-has-reinvigorated-his-weapons/) [Bob Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-graham/) > [Americans like warm characters. It's why, no matter what he did in the early days, they kind of resonated to Bill Clinton because he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/americans-like-warm-characters-it-s-why-no-matter-what-he-did-in-the/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [“I told him that I had at first, when I had to go out to work so young, but I was used to it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-facey/i-told-him-that-i-had-at-first-when-i-had-to-go-out-to-work-so-young/) [A.B. Facey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-facey/) > [I'm like President Bush. You may not like me, you may not respect me, but you voted me in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-m-like-president-bush-you-may-not-like-me-you-may-not-respect-me/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I like Chris Christie. I like Jeb Bush. I like those guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/i-like-chris-christie-i-like-jeb-bush-i-like-those-guys/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [“Arabs and other Muslims generally agreed that Saddam Hussein might be a bloody tyrant, but, paralleling FDR's thinking, "he is our bloody tyrant." In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-p-huntington/arabs-and-other-muslims-generally-agreed-that-saddam-hussein-might-be/) [Samuel P. Huntington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-p-huntington/) > [The United States encouraged Iraqis to rise up after Saddam Hussein's army was driven out of Kuwait. Washington assumed Saddam was weak after losing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/the-united-states-encouraged-iraqis-to-rise-up-after-saddam-hussein-s/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [More than 200 ships from 13 nations conducted over 10,000 flawless intercepts, which formed a steel wall around the waters leading to Iraq. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/more-than-200-ships-from-13-nations-conducted-over-10-000-flawless/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/the-last-un-weapons-inspectors-left-iraq-in-october-of-1998-we-are/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [ Asked who attacked America on 9/11, \[Sarah Palin\] suggested several times that it was Saddam Hussein. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/asked-who-attacked-america-on-9-11-sarah-palin-suggested-several/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Martin Sheen > [My first civil disobedience arrest for social justice was in 1986 for protesting the SDI.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/my-first-civil-disobedience-arrest-for-social-justice-was-in-1986-for/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [I don't think abortion is a good idea. I personally am opposed to abortion, but I will not judge anybody else's right in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/i-don-t-think-abortion-is-a-good-idea-i-personally-am-opposed-to/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [I just think that the only way we come to ourselves is through each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/i-just-think-that-the-only-way-we-come-to-ourselves-is-through-each/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [I personally am opposed to abortion, but I will not judge anybody else's right in that regard because I am not a woman and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/i-personally-am-opposed-to-abortion-but-i-will-not-judge-anybody-else/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [We don't choose a life, we live one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/we-don-t-choose-a-life-we-live-one/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [The most satisfying thing in my life and my career is to work with my children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/the-most-satisfying-thing-in-my-life-and-my-career-is-to-work-with-my/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [Childhood hunger in America is as much a paradox as it is a tragedy. Why, in the wealthiest country in the world, should hunger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/childhood-hunger-in-america-is-as-much-a-paradox-as-it-is-a-tragedy/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [On the show, we are not trying to get people to eat their vegetables; we are not trying to get people to become Democrats.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/on-the-show-we-are-not-trying-to-get-people-to-eat-their-vegetables/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [You are equally responsible for your place in the culture, and you must make a contribution, and you must accept responsibility for what goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/you-are-equally-responsible-for-your-place-in-the-culture-and-you/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [I don't think that people in America are really given enough information about the Third World.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/i-don-t-think-that-people-in-america-are-really-given-enough/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [This supposed idyllic society we have is the most confused, warped, addicted society in the history of the world. We are addicted to power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/this-supposed-idyllic-society-we-have-is-the-most-confused-warped/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [When I reached adulthood, even now, I could afford to belong to a country club. But I could never belong to a private club…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/when-i-reached-adulthood-even-now-i-could-afford-to-belong-to-a/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [The key word about The West Wing is show. It is not a reality show. It has nothing to do with reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/the-key-word-about-the-west-wing-is-show-it-is-not-a-reality-show-it/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [Don't invade Iraq. Inspections work, war won't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/don-t-invade-iraq-inspections-work-war-won-t/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [What we try to say is that it doesn't matter if you are a Republican or a Democrat or conservative or independent. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/what-we-try-to-say-is-that-it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-are-a-republican/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) [Explore all 90 Martin Sheen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) ## More Approval quotes > [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [we need not avoid our active lives, but simply bring to them a new vision and shift of gravity. for in the center we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/we-need-not-avoid-our-active-lives-but-simply-bring-to-them-a-new/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [Lean too much on the approval of people, and it becomes a bed of thorns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tehyi-hsieh/lean-too-much-on-the-approval-of-people-and-it-becomes-a-bed-of-thorns/) [Tehyi Hsieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tehyi-hsieh/) > [But I always reassure them that as far as my contractual rights can go, I will protect them and make sure that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-roach/but-i-always-reassure-them-that-as-far-as-my-contractual-rights-can/) [Jay Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-roach/) > [Growing up in that fashion is a breeding ground for insecurity and doubt; it also leaves you questioning motives. It took me a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-runyon/growing-up-in-that-fashion-is-a-breeding-ground-for-insecurity-and/) [Damon Runyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-runyon/) > [A year ago, my approval rating was in the 30s, my nominee for the supreme court had just withdrawn, and my vice president had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/a-year-ago-my-approval-rating-was-in-the-30s-my-nominee-for-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Approval is a greater motivator than disapproval, but we have to disapprove on occasion when we correct. It’s necessary. I make corrections only after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/approval-is-a-greater-motivator-than-disapproval-but-we-have-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [These days people are mean to people just because they don't like the way they look. No-one should be hated because of their flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/these-days-people-are-mean-to-people-just-because-they-don-t-like-the/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [I got this emptiness inside that got me fighting for approval because I missed out on my daddy saying, Way to Go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/i-got-this-emptiness-inside-that-got-me-fighting-for-approval-because/) [Lecrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [My dad taught me swears when I was a toddler, and I saw, at a really early age, that if I shocked people, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/my-dad-taught-me-swears-when-i-was-a-toddler-and-i-saw-at-a-really/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [If torture is going to be administered as a last resort in the ticking-bomb case, to save enormous numbers of lives, it ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/if-torture-is-going-to-be-administered-as-a-last-resort-in-the/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [Comedy is a very approval-oriented field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/comedy-is-a-very-approval-oriented-field/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [Whenever you are too worried about someone else's approval, that person loses respect for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/whenever-you-are-too-worried-about-someone-else-s-approval-that/) [Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/) > [Pleasure is Nature's test, her sign of approval.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/pleasure-is-nature-s-test-her-sign-of-approval/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Do you really mean the only reason you try to be good is to gain God's approval and reward? That's not morality, that's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/do-you-really-mean-the-only-reason-you-try-to-be-good-is-to-gain-god/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) [Browse all 904 Approval quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think [Bush] would like to hand his father Saddam Hussein's head and win his approval for what happened after the Gulf War.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Sheen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/i-think-bush-would-like-to-hand-his-father-saddam-hussein-s-head-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Approval" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/i-think-bush-would-like-to-hand-his-father-saddam-hussein-s-head-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/martin-sheen-7550_approval_i-think-bush-would-like-to-hand-his-fath_2668024.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/martin-sheen-7550_approval_i-think-bush-would-like-to-hand-his-fath_2668024.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/martin-sheen-7550_approval_i-think-bush-would-like-to-hand-his-fath_2668024.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think [Bush] would like to hand his father Saddam Hussein's head and win his approval for what happened…” — Martin Sheen", "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": "Martin Sheen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think [Bush] would like to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/i-think-bush-would-like-to-hand-his-father-saddam-hussein-s-head-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/i-think-bush-would-like-to-hand-his-father-saddam-hussein-s-head-and/#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 } } ] } ```