--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The big issue is whether the United…" description: "\"The big issue is whether the United States will succeed in its venture of reshaping the Middle East. It is not clear to me that using military force is..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b31/milton-friedman-616_bigs_the-big-issue-is-whether-the-united-stat_3101404.png" --- # The big issue is whether the United States will succeed in… ![“The big issue is whether the United States will succeed in its venture of reshaping the Middle East. It is not clear to me that using military force is the way to do it. We should not have gone into Iraq. But we have.” quote by Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b31/milton-friedman-616_bigs_the-big-issue-is-whether-the-united-stat_3101404.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b31/milton-friedman-616_bigs_the-big-issue-is-whether-the-united-stat_3101404.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b31/milton-friedman-616_bigs_the-big-issue-is-whether-the-united-stat_3101404.png) > “The big issue is whether the United States will succeed in its venture of reshaping the Middle East. It is not clear to me that using military force is the way to do it. We should not have gone into Iraq. But we have.” [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Military intervention is not a reliable method for political reshaping; diplomatic and economic tools are preferable. **In simple terms:** War isn’t the best way to reshape regions. Key Takeaway Seek non‑military solutions. Themes politics war policy foreign affairs Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical policy When to use this quote - policy planning - diplomacy - conflict resolution Key Concepts international relations economics ethics Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives could achieve the same goals? - How do we measure success without force? A Different Perspective Military action can cause long‑term instability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big Issue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-issue-1323114/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/east/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone/) [Gone Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone-iraq-1626969/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Middle east](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-east/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Military force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military-force/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Using Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/using-military-2330690/) [Venture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/venture/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [If you don’t have a good idea of what to do next after using military force, then don’t use it in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/if-you-don-t-have-a-good-idea-of-what-to-do-next-after-using-military/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [The most important ways in which I think the Internet will affect the big issue is that it will make it more difficult for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-most-important-ways-in-which-i-think-the-internet-will-affect-the/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [People are fond of using military terms to describe what they do. We call it bombing when we go out painting, when of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/people-are-fond-of-using-military-terms-to-describe-what-they-do-we/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Using the ‘military decision-making process’ is extremely valuable when making policy decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-heck/using-the-military-decision-making-process-is-extremely-valuable-when/) [Joe Heck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-heck/) > [Reasonable people can differ on whether or not we should have gone into Iraq.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/reasonable-people-can-differ-on-whether-or-not-we-should-have-gone/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [Everyone has their own opinion about what this country is doing. Personally, I wish we hadn't gone to Iraq.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sarsgaard/everyone-has-their-own-opinion-about-what-this-country-is-doing/) [Peter Sarsgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sarsgaard/) > [America went into Iraq. We shouldn't have gone into Iraq. We shouldn't have gotten out the way we got out. The world is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/america-went-into-iraq-we-shouldn-t-have-gone-into-iraq-we-shouldn-t/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I would not have gone into Iraq.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/i-would-not-have-gone-into-iraq/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [Now, with that being said, we cannot allow, we shouldn't have gone into Iraq.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/now-with-that-being-said-we-cannot-allow-we-shouldn-t-have-gone-into/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [If Bush had gone into Iraq for cynical reasons, we could cut our losses now. What's frightening is that he did it for ideological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seymour-hersh/if-bush-had-gone-into-iraq-for-cynical-reasons-we-could-cut-our/) [Seymour Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seymour-hersh/) > [The importance of balance is huge but I think it is for everybody. It's a big issue for at least anyone that I talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-stone/the-importance-of-balance-is-huge-but-i-think-it-is-for-everybody-it/) [Emma Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-stone/) > [I don't know what the big issue is about a kiss with Neve Campbell in Wild Things. It's a role, and I think a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-richards/i-don-t-know-what-the-big-issue-is-about-a-kiss-with-neve-campbell-in/) [Denise Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-richards/) > [One of the issues that differentiates union members in Texas and the Northeast is guns. That's a big issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-veasey/one-of-the-issues-that-differentiates-union-members-in-texas-and-the/) [Marc Veasey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-veasey/) > [I think for female filmmakers a big issue is making their second and third films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-think-for-female-filmmakers-a-big-issue-is-making-their-second-and/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [Transportation and education are two big ones for me. And transportation is selfishly a big issue for me because I drive these roads every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brauchler/transportation-and-education-are-two-big-ones-for-me-and/) [George Brauchler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brauchler/) ## More by Milton Friedman > [The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-government-solution-to-a-problem-is-usually-as-bad-as-the-problem/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [I believe the role that people like myself have played in the transformation of public opinion has been by persistently presenting a different point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/i-believe-the-role-that-people-like-myself-have-played-in-the/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [To really understand something you've got to reduce it to its principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/to-really-understand-something-you-ve-got-to-reduce-it-to-its/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [It is a mark of how far we have gone on the road to serfdom that government allocation and rationing of oil is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/it-is-a-mark-of-how-far-we-have-gone-on-the-road-to-serfdom-that/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Economic freedom is an essential requisite for political freedom. By enabling people to cooperate with one another without coercion or central direction, it reduces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/economic-freedom-is-an-essential-requisite-for-political-freedom-by/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [“The people in one district can choose not to reelect their member of Congress, but that will not change the composition of the government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-people-in-one-district-can-choose-not-to-reelect-their-member-of/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [When you have a time of crisis what happens depends on what ideas are floating around, and what ideas have been developed, and thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/when-you-have-a-time-of-crisis-what-happens-depends-on-what-ideas-are/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [The government doesn't have any money. The only power it has is to take from some and give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-government-doesn-t-have-any-money-the-only-power-it-has-is-to/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [What would the people who sold us goods do with the money? They'd get dollars. What would they do with the dollars? Eat them?!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/what-would-the-people-who-sold-us-goods-do-with-the-money-they-d-get/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [World trade depends on differences among countries, not similarities. Different countries are in different stages of development. It is appropriate for them to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/world-trade-depends-on-differences-among-countries-not-similarities/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Is there some society you know of that doesn't run on greed? You think Russia doesn't run on greed? You think China doesn't run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/is-there-some-society-you-know-of-that-doesn-t-run-on-greed-you-think/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Well first of all, tell me, is there some society you know of that doesn't run on greed? You think Russia doesn't run on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/well-first-of-all-tell-me-is-there-some-society-you-know-of-that/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [I think almost every economist would agree that government gets itself in trouble when it tries to interfere with voluntary behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/i-think-almost-every-economist-would-agree-that-government-gets/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [It is most attractive about the US to people and countries with wealth is that it can provide security, insurance really, against political instability.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/it-is-most-attractive-about-the-us-to-people-and-countries-with/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Hong Kong is the bellwether. If the Chinese stick to their agreement to let Hong Kong go its own path, then China will also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/hong-kong-is-the-bellwether-if-the-chinese-stick-to-their-agreement/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Explore all 444 Milton Friedman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) ## More Bigs quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I don't want this to be a distraction. This has been distracting enough. I'm not going to rehash this going forward. I'm sure other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-werth/i-don-t-want-this-to-be-a-distraction-this-has-been-distracting/) [Jayson Werth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-werth/) > [I didn't get how big it was until I went home, turned on the television and saw it on all the news, and later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-didn-t-get-how-big-it-was-until-i-went-home-turned-on-the/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I got in trouble my whole life for having a big mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/i-got-in-trouble-my-whole-life-for-having-a-big-mouth/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) [Browse all 15,539 Bigs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The big issue is whether the United States will succeed in its venture of reshaping the Middle East. 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