--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The new troops in Iraq need to be Iraqi…" description: "\"The new troops in Iraq need to be Iraqi troops.\" — Mitch McConnell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/mitch-mcconnell-2153_iraq_the-new-troops-in-iraq-need-to-be-iraqi_2049028.jpg" --- # The new troops in Iraq need to be Iraqi troops. ![“The new troops in Iraq need to be Iraqi troops.” quote by Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/mitch-mcconnell-2153_iraq_the-new-troops-in-iraq-need-to-be-iraqi_2049028.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/mitch-mcconnell-2153_iraq_the-new-troops-in-iraq-need-to-be-iraqi_2049028.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/mitch-mcconnell-2153_iraq_the-new-troops-in-iraq-need-to-be-iraqi_2049028.jpg) > “The new troops in Iraq need to be Iraqi troops.” [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective security in Iraq depends on empowering local forces rather than relying on foreign troops. **In simple terms:** Iraq needs its own troops for security. Key Takeaway Support and train local security forces. Themes security sovereignty military strategy local empowerment Mood cautious strategic Type political military When to use this quote - conflict zones - post-war reconstruction - military training - government policy Key Concepts nation-building self-reliance policy defense Questions to Reflect On - How can foreign aid best support local troops? - What are risks of rapid transition to local control? A Different Perspective Local forces may lack resources or training initially. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Troops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/troops/) [Troops in iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/troops-in-iraq/) ## Related quotes > [I would not have had our troops in Iraq.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-would-not-have-had-our-troops-in-iraq/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [ \[Our troops in Iraq and Afganistan\] does give us the ability to make sure that we are strengthening those folk who are interested in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/our-troops-in-iraq-and-afganistan-does-give-us-the-ability-to-make/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ The majority of \[the troops in Iraq\] is that feel they're doing the right thing and their parents who have also made sacrifices, generally… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/the-majority-of-the-troops-in-iraq-is-that-feel-they-re-doing-the/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Today, I can report that, as promised, the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of the year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/today-i-can-report-that-as-promised-the-rest-of-our-troops-in-iraq/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Iraqi troops and the Iraqi fighters are in control of all the places, as we have witnessed, no big change in that. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/the-iraqi-troops-and-the-iraqi-fighters-are-in-control-of-all-the/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [What we need now is not just a regime change in Saddam Hussein and Iraq, but we need a regime change in the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/what-we-need-now-is-not-just-a-regime-change-in-saddam-hussein-and/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [America has also forever lost the service of thousands of good soldiers who are now disabled as a result of battle wounds in Iraq.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/america-has-also-forever-lost-the-service-of-thousands-of-good/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [I don't care where I play, I can even play in Iraq if need be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-ramirez/i-don-t-care-where-i-play-i-can-even-play-in-iraq-if-need-be/) [Manny Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-ramirez/) > [The Israelis have taken a lot of security measures which reduce significantly the ability of Iran to inflict truly severe pain in Israel. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-israelis-have-taken-a-lot-of-security-measures-which-reduce/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [I saw the president make the tough calls in the Situation Room - and today, our troops in Iraq have finally come home so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/i-saw-the-president-make-the-tough-calls-in-the-situation-room-and/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [As someone who's spent time with our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan on USO tours and met wounded warriors at Walter Reed and Bethesda,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/as-someone-who-s-spent-time-with-our-troops-in-iraq-and-afghanistan/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [We cannot simply speak out against an escalation of troops in Iraq, we must act to prevent it... There can be no doubt that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/we-cannot-simply-speak-out-against-an-escalation-of-troops-in-iraq-we/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [ Rand's \[Paul\] a libertarian. He has a view of the world that I don't share. He said that we shouldn't have any troops in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/rand-s-paul-a-libertarian-he-has-a-view-of-the-world-that-i-don-t/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [At the very time that Congress is considering a Bush administration request to equip our troops in Iraq with vehicles that are more resistant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deneen-borelli/at-the-very-time-that-congress-is-considering-a-bush-administration/) Deneen Borelli > [ It cannot be an American fight. And I think what the president \[Barack Obama\] has consistently said - which I agree with - is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-cannot-be-an-american-fight-and-i-think-what-the-president-barack/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) ## More by Mitch McConnell > [When you hang the 'bipartisan' tag on something, the perception is that differences have been worked out, and there's a broad agreement that that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/when-you-hang-the-bipartisan-tag-on-something-the-perception-is-that/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [No matter how unusual a personality may be who gets elected to office, there are constraints in this country. You don't get to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/no-matter-how-unusual-a-personality-may-be-who-gets-elected-to-office/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [I'm optimistic that none of my members in the end want to be responsible for the status quo on Obamacare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/i-m-optimistic-that-none-of-my-members-in-the-end-want-to-be/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [America's a land of second opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/america-s-a-land-of-second-opportunities/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [To call this a recovery is an insult to recoveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/to-call-this-a-recovery-is-an-insult-to-recoveries/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [I believe that marriage should be between one man and one woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/i-believe-that-marriage-should-be-between-one-man-and-one-woman/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [I'm really proud of this Supreme Court and the way they've been dealing with the issue of First Amendment political speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/i-m-really-proud-of-this-supreme-court-and-the-way-they-ve-been/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [I think it is to the advantage of my state to have the opportunity to come to meetings occasionally and to vote in person,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/i-think-it-is-to-the-advantage-of-my-state-to-have-the-opportunity-to/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [It is time for a leader who will lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/it-is-time-for-a-leader-who-will-lead/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [On the issue of Iraq, it is my hope, and my challenge to my colleagues, that our debate will be based on what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/on-the-issue-of-iraq-it-is-my-hope-and-my-challenge-to-my-colleagues/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [Eventually, Americans would be stuck with government-run health care whether they like it or not. That's when the worst scenario would take shape, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/eventually-americans-would-be-stuck-with-government-run-health-care/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [Our nation has a regrettable history of drawing down our forces and readiness after each conflict, only to find ourselve ill-prepared for the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/our-nation-has-a-regrettable-history-of-drawing-down-our-forces-and/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [As President Obama reminded us, we're all on one team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/as-president-obama-reminded-us-we-re-all-on-one-team/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [The Frist fairness rule guarantees up-or-down votes for every circuit court or Supreme Court nomination, regardless of which party controls the Senate or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/the-frist-fairness-rule-guarantees-up-or-down-votes-for-every-circuit/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [I always think a debt ceiling is a good tool to carry something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/i-always-think-a-debt-ceiling-is-a-good-tool-to-carry-something/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) [Explore all 182 Mitch McConnell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) ## More Iraq 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/) > [Five days or five months, but it certainly isn't going to last longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/five-days-or-five-months-but-it-certainly-isn-t-going-to-last-longer/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [In the Green Zone in Iraq you have your radio, you have your food, you have your own electricity, your own toilets. 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/) > [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/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [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/) > [“Here you can shoot the bad guys,' a mercenary says in Baghdad. 'In America we give them corporate bonuses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-robotham/here-you-can-shoot-the-bad-guys-a-mercenary-says-in-baghdad-in/) [Michael Robotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-robotham/) > [I believe Saddam Hussein's strategic objective was, and remains, to assert dominance over the Gulf region.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-berger/i-believe-saddam-hussein-s-strategic-objective-was-and-remains-to/) [Sandy Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-berger/) > [In the lead up to the Iraq war and its later conduct, I saw at a minimum, true dereliction, negligence and irresponsibility, at worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-zinni/in-the-lead-up-to-the-iraq-war-and-its-later-conduct-i-saw-at-a/) [Anthony Zinni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-zinni/) > [There aren't traditions of freedom in a place like Iraq. They're going to have to come to grips with a concept that they hadn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-wallop/there-aren-t-traditions-of-freedom-in-a-place-like-iraq-they-re-going/) [Malcolm Wallop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-wallop/) > [In any event, it is one thing to assert, then or now, that the Iraq war was ill-advised. It is quite another to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-silberman/in-any-event-it-is-one-thing-to-assert-then-or-now-that-the-iraq-war/) [Laurence Silberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-silberman/) > [It might interest you that just as the U.S. was ramping up its involvement in Vietnam, LBJ launched an illegal invasion of the Dominican…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/it-might-interest-you-that-just-as-the-u-s-was-ramping-up-its/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [The U.S. cannot impose freedom, security, and unity in Iraq by force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/the-u-s-cannot-impose-freedom-security-and-unity-in-iraq-by-force/) [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) > [While not widely reported, our victories in Iraq are plentiful. National elections, a democratic parliament and the drafting of a constitution are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillmor/while-not-widely-reported-our-victories-in-iraq-are-plentiful/) [Paul Gillmor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillmor/) > [The tyrant has fallen, and Iraq is free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-tyrant-has-fallen-and-iraq-is-free/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) [Browse all 2,606 Iraq quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The new troops in Iraq need to be Iraqi troops.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mitch McConnell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/the-new-troops-in-iraq-need-to-be-iraqi-troops/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Iraq" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/the-new-troops-in-iraq-need-to-be-iraqi-troops/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/mitch-mcconnell-2153_iraq_the-new-troops-in-iraq-need-to-be-iraqi_2049028.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/mitch-mcconnell-2153_iraq_the-new-troops-in-iraq-need-to-be-iraqi_2049028.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/mitch-mcconnell-2153_iraq_the-new-troops-in-iraq-need-to-be-iraqi_2049028.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The new troops in Iraq need to be Iraqi troops.” — Mitch McConnell", "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": "Mitch McConnell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The new troops in Iraq need...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/the-new-troops-in-iraq-need-to-be-iraqi-troops/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/the-new-troops-in-iraq-need-to-be-iraqi-troops/#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 } } ] } ```