--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It has been a little surprising to me…" description: "\"It has been a little surprising to me, anyway, is to find out through media that there actually have been several chemical attacks recently. Now, with ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a0/michael-mullen-13631_attacks_it-has-been-a-little-surprising-to-me-an_3134959.png" --- # It has been a little surprising to me, anyway, is to find… ![“It has been a little surprising to me, anyway, is to find out through media that there actually have been several chemical attacks recently. Now, with some belief on my part, and I think a lot of people, that we thought we got rid of the chemical weapons with the regime that President Obama and…” quote by Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a0/michael-mullen-13631_attacks_it-has-been-a-little-surprising-to-me-an_3134959.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a0/michael-mullen-13631_attacks_it-has-been-a-little-surprising-to-me-an_3134959.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a0/michael-mullen-13631_attacks_it-has-been-a-little-surprising-to-me-an_3134959.png) > “It has been a little surprising to me, anyway, is to find out through media that there actually have been several chemical attacks recently. Now, with some belief on my part, and I think a lot of people, that we thought we got rid of the chemical weapons with the regime that President Obama and President Putin put in place.” [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 speaker expresses surprise at recent chemical attacks, questioning the belief that past disarmament eliminated such threats. **In simple terms:** Recent attacks surprise the speaker, doubting past disarmament. Key Takeaway Stay vigilant about chemical threats. Themes security politics warfare Mood concerned serious Type analytical cautionary When to use this quote - policy analysis - public health - defense planning - media literacy Key Concepts disarmament media perception Questions to Reflect On - Are we complacent about weapons of mass destruction? - How can media improve reporting on such threats? A Different Perspective Assuming past actions guarantee future safety can be risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attacks/) [Attacks Recently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attacks-recently-902440/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Chemical Attacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemical-attacks-2405285/) [Chemical weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemical-weapons/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-obama/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Weapons Regime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons-regime-673310/) ## Related quotes > [We do know that the Iraqi regime has chemical and biological weapons. His regime has amassed large, clandestine stockpiles of chemical weapons - including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/we-do-know-that-the-iraqi-regime-has-chemical-and-biological-weapons/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [I was very upset in August of 2012 when President Obama declared a red line against Syria and said if these chemical attacks continue,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedediah-bila/i-was-very-upset-in-august-of-2012-when-president-obama-declared-a/) [Jedediah Bila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedediah-bila/) > [The common thread linking the major Islamic terrorist attacks that have recently occurred on our soil - 9/11, the Ft. Hood shooting, the Boston…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-common-thread-linking-the-major-islamic-terrorist-attacks-that/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In any event, the problem in Iran is much bigger than weapons. The problem is the terrorist regime that seeks the weapons. The regime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-perle/in-any-event-the-problem-in-iran-is-much-bigger-than-weapons-the/) [Richard Perle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-perle/) > [The only thing that will stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons is regime change in Tehran.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/the-only-thing-that-will-stop-iran-from-getting-nuclear-weapons-is/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [There is no question that chemical weapons attacks are a heinous abuse of humanity and power. But to assume that military strikes are an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basmah-bint-saud/there-is-no-question-that-chemical-weapons-attacks-are-a-heinous/) [Basmah bint Saud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basmah-bint-saud/) > [Few people know that President Obama has used drone attacks many times more than Bush ever did. Obama's off the charts in terms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-turley/few-people-know-that-president-obama-has-used-drone-attacks-many/) [Jonathan Turley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-turley/) > [Some people in this nation believe that race is a significant factor in the constant attacks against President Obama. Others believe that these attacks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-forbes/some-people-in-this-nation-believe-that-race-is-a-significant-factor/) [James A. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-forbes/) > [We are vulnerable in the military and in our governments, but I think we're most vulnerable to cyber attacks commercially. This challenge is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/we-are-vulnerable-in-the-military-and-in-our-governments-but-i-think/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [Who cares how we avoided a war and got a dictator to give up his chemical weapons if we avoided a war and got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/who-cares-how-we-avoided-a-war-and-got-a-dictator-to-give-up-his/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [The United States, a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention, destroyed the last of its stocks of VX and other chemical agents on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/the-united-states-a-signatory-to-the-chemical-weapons-convention/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [Under Saddam Hussein, the nation of Iraq possessed and used chemical weapons against both their own Kurdish population and Iranian military forces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/under-saddam-hussein-the-nation-of-iraq-possessed-and-used-chemical/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [My goal is to maintain the international norm on banning chemical weapons. I want that enforcement to be real. I want it to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/my-goal-is-to-maintain-the-international-norm-on-banning-chemical/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [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/) > [I come to this debate, Mr. Speaker, as one at the end of 10 years in office on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-come-to-this-debate-mr-speaker-as-one-at-the-end-of-10-years-in/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) ## 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 Attacks quotes > [The way I look at it is, cancer research is absolutely nonpartisan. Cancer is very democratic in the sense that it attacks people regardless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-koch/the-way-i-look-at-it-is-cancer-research-is-absolutely-nonpartisan/) [David H. Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-koch/) > [I personally felt that his ad hominen attacks on British architects were not the sort of thing a Prince of Wales should be doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-holden/i-personally-felt-that-his-ad-hominen-attacks-on-british-architects/) [Anthony Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-holden/) > [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [If nothing else, the cyber attacks that occurred during the 2016 presidential election have laid bare the very real vulnerabilities that exist across our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-quigley/if-nothing-else-the-cyber-attacks-that-occurred-during-the-2016/) [Mike Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-quigley/) > [We've had Saudis and Jordanians and Pakistanis who have - and Syrians - who have been involved in armed attacks against coalition forces in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/we-ve-had-saudis-and-jordanians-and-pakistanis-who-have-and-syrians/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [“At the same time that we see a massive deployment of wireless radiation, we see the most violent attacks on modern society.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/at-the-same-time-that-we-see-a-massive-deployment-of-wireless/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [At sleepovers I would have panic attacks trying to break it to girls that they didn't want to kiss me without outing myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/io-tillett-wright/at-sleepovers-i-would-have-panic-attacks-trying-to-break-it-to-girls/) [iO Tillett Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/io-tillett-wright/) > [I knew I was having a panic attack. 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