--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the central mission in…" description: "\"I think the central mission in Afghanistan right now is to protect the people, certainly, and that would be inclusive of everybody, and that in a, in a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1f/michael-mullen-13631_afghanistan_i-think-the-central-mission-in-afghanist_1732343.png" --- # I think the central mission in Afghanistan right now is to… ![“I think the central mission in Afghanistan right now is to protect the people, certainly, and that would be inclusive of everybody, and that in a, in an insurgency and a counterinsurgency, that's really the center of gravity.” quote by Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1f/michael-mullen-13631_afghanistan_i-think-the-central-mission-in-afghanist_1732343.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1f/michael-mullen-13631_afghanistan_i-think-the-central-mission-in-afghanist_1732343.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1f/michael-mullen-13631_afghanistan_i-think-the-central-mission-in-afghanist_1732343.png) > “I think the central mission in Afghanistan right now is to protect the people, certainly, and that would be inclusive of everybody, and that in a, in an insurgency and a counterinsurgency, that's really the center of gravity.” [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The heart of any insurgency or counter‑insurgency is protecting civilians, which defines the central focus of operations. **In simple terms:** People’s safety is the core goal. Key Takeaway Prioritize civilian protection. Themes security civilian protection military strategy Mood serious strategic Type policy military When to use this quote - war zones - peacekeeping missions - humanitarian aid - policy planning Key Concepts counter‑insurgency theory human security Questions to Reflect On - How can forces protect civilians without compromising mission success? - What metrics best measure civilian safety? A Different Perspective Balancing security with civilian harm is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) [Afghanistan Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan-right-1441779/) [Center of gravity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/center-of-gravity/) [Central Mission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/central-mission-1441780/) [Counterinsurgency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/counterinsurgency/) [Counterinsurgency Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/counterinsurgency-really-1441781/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Gravity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gravity/) [Insurgency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insurgency/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Mission Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mission-afghanistan-1441778/) [Missions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missions/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect/) [Protect People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect-people/) [Right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-now/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [Most liberals I know were for invading Afghanistan right after 9/11.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/most-liberals-i-know-were-for-invading-afghanistan-right-after-9-11/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [America will complete its mission in Afghanistan and achieve our objective of defeating the core of al Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/america-will-complete-its-mission-in-afghanistan-and-achieve-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think that the first point to be made is there is no "solution" in Afghanistan. Solution I put in quotes. We live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-danner/i-think-that-the-first-point-to-be-made-is-there-is-no-solution-in/) [Mark Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-danner/) > [Of all the places I've been while talking to audiences about the U.S. Army's 5th Special Forces Group and their story in Afghanistan, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanton/of-all-the-places-i-ve-been-while-talking-to-audiences-about-the-u-s/) [Doug Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanton/) > [One is the goals of 9/11 itself, of that attack was to draw the United States into Afghanistan to fight a counterinsurgency as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-danner/one-is-the-goals-of-9-11-itself-of-that-attack-was-to-draw-the-united/) [Mark Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-danner/) > [Offensive operations and hunting down the enemy is an integral part of any counterinsurgency approach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-r-mcmaster/offensive-operations-and-hunting-down-the-enemy-is-an-integral-part/) [H. R. McMaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-r-mcmaster/) > [Just in time for the renewal of the war debate in Congress, the University of Chicago Press has released The U.S. Army / Marine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-l-ulin/just-in-time-for-the-renewal-of-the-war-debate-in-congress-the/) [David L. Ulin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-l-ulin/) > [Netanyahu and his coalition have no strategy of their own except endless counterinsurgency against the backdrop of a steadily deteriorating diplomatic position within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-chait/netanyahu-and-his-coalition-have-no-strategy-of-their-own-except/) [Jonathan Chait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-chait/) > [I think every war certainly wears on national will and national patience, particularly a counterinsurgency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-a-mcchrystal/i-think-every-war-certainly-wears-on-national-will-and-national/) [Stanley A. McChrystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-a-mcchrystal/) > [Faced with the collapse of Iraq into something like Lebanon - or worse, Somalia - the Bush administration opted for a new counterinsurgency strategy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/faced-with-the-collapse-of-iraq-into-something-like-lebanon-or-worse/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [You know as well as I do that counterinsurgency is a very nuanced type of military operation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-abizaid/you-know-as-well-as-i-do-that-counterinsurgency-is-a-very-nuanced/) [John Abizaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-abizaid/) > [I do not believe that a counterterrorism strategy all by itself, without a sufficient level of counterinsurgency, will work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/i-do-not-believe-that-a-counterterrorism-strategy-all-by-itself/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [Military leaders, many of whom were students of counterinsurgency, recognized the dangers of an incremental escalation and the historical lesson that 'trailing' an insurgency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-a-mcchrystal/military-leaders-many-of-whom-were-students-of-counterinsurgency/) [Stanley A. McChrystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-a-mcchrystal/) > [“By the end of 2004, U.S. operations in Iraq had been rough enough to antagonize the Sunni population without imposing the draconian methods armies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bing-west/by-the-end-of-2004-u-s-operations-in-iraq-had-been-rough-enough-to/) [Bing West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bing-west/) > [I think indeed our response on counterinsurgency needs to be finely tuned to the needs of Afghanistan. This is not Iraq. We don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/i-think-indeed-our-response-on-counterinsurgency-needs-to-be-finely/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) ## More by Michael Mullen > [Every Sailor has the potential to lead," said Mullen, "I don't care if it's a seaman recruit or someone higher ranking than myself. Where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/every-sailor-has-the-potential-to-lead-said-mullen-i-don-t-care-if-it/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I worry a little bit about - quote - "regime change." We haven't had a great deal of success with that in years. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-worry-a-little-bit-about-quote-regime-change-we-haven-t-had-a-great/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [Some 70% to 80% of all who join the military will return to the civilian workforce. They'll return to communities, and one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/some-70-to-80-of-all-who-join-the-military-will-return-to-the/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I'm blessed to be in a command position in a Navy this good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-m-blessed-to-be-in-a-command-position-in-a-navy-this-good/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [The truth is, we live in deeds, not days; in actions and thoughts and feelings, not heartbeats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/the-truth-is-we-live-in-deeds-not-days-in-actions-and-thoughts-and/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I'd have no problem serving under any president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-d-have-no-problem-serving-under-any-president/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I think anybody in our - in the, in the national security apparatus has, has got to take full cognizance of their responsibility for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-think-anybody-in-our-in-the-in-the-national-security-apparatus-has/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I'm very concerned about the nuclear weapons development for Iran and the destabilizing influence it has and they have in that part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-m-very-concerned-about-the-nuclear-weapons-development-for-iran-and/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [Too often we just look at these glistening successes. Behind them in many, many cases is failure along the way, and that doesn't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/too-often-we-just-look-at-these-glistening-successes-behind-them-in/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [When I go there to Afghanistan or Pakistan, the question both asked - and if it's not asked, implied - is, 'Are you staying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/when-i-go-there-to-afghanistan-or-pakistan-the-question-both-asked/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [The best day was when we got bin Laden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/the-best-day-was-when-we-got-bin-laden/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I would like America to remember those who have served and those that we've lost and their families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-would-like-america-to-remember-those-who-have-served-and-those-that/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I've been pretty clear about saying that I think that the No. 1 threat to our national security is our debt. And we've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-ve-been-pretty-clear-about-saying-that-i-think-that-the-no-1-threat/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I'm a Vietnam veteran. I was here when there was no public support, not just for the effort in Vietnam, for the mission in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-m-a-vietnam-veteran-i-was-here-when-there-was-no-public-support-not/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [It is my position that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. No matter how I look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/it-is-my-position-that-allowing-gays-and-lesbians-to-serve-openly/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) [Explore all 49 Michael Mullen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) ## 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": "I think the central mission in Afghanistan right now is to protect the people, certainly, and that would be inclusive of everybody, and that in a, in an insurgency and a counterinsurgency, that's really the center of gravity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Mullen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-think-the-central-mission-in-afghanistan-right-now-is-to-protect/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afghanistan" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-think-the-central-mission-in-afghanistan-right-now-is-to-protect/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1f/michael-mullen-13631_afghanistan_i-think-the-central-mission-in-afghanist_1732343.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1f/michael-mullen-13631_afghanistan_i-think-the-central-mission-in-afghanist_1732343.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1f/michael-mullen-13631_afghanistan_i-think-the-central-mission-in-afghanist_1732343.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think the central mission in Afghanistan right now is to protect the people, certainly, and that would be…” — Michael Mullen", "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": "Michael Mullen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think the central mission in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-think-the-central-mission-in-afghanistan-right-now-is-to-protect/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-think-the-central-mission-in-afghanistan-right-now-is-to-protect/#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 } } ] } ```