--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Credible reports came through that Syria…" description: "\"Credible reports came through that Syria had used chemical weapons. Whether it's true actually is still open to question, but it's very probably true. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58d/noam-chomsky-42_actors_credible-reports-came-through-that-syria_1682330.jpg" --- # Credible reports came through that Syria had used chemical… ![“Credible reports came through that Syria had used chemical weapons. Whether it's true actually is still open to question, but it's very probably true. At that point, what was at stake was what is called credibility. So if you read the political actors, political leadership, foreign policy…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58d/noam-chomsky-42_actors_credible-reports-came-through-that-syria_1682330.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58d/noam-chomsky-42_actors_credible-reports-came-through-that-syria_1682330.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58d/noam-chomsky-42_actors_credible-reports-came-through-that-syria_1682330.jpg) > “Credible reports came through that Syria had used chemical weapons. Whether it's true actually is still open to question, but it's very probably true. At that point, what was at stake was what is called credibility. So if you read the political actors, political leadership, foreign policy commentary, they constantly point out accurately that US credibility was at stake, and we have to maintain US credibility. So therefore something had to be done to show you can't violate our orders.” [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights how maintaining national credibility can drive actions, even when evidence is uncertain, emphasizing political pressure over factual certainty. **In simple terms:** Credibility can dictate policy despite unclear facts. Key Takeaway Beware of decisions driven by reputation alone. Themes politics credibility foreign policy ethics decision making Mood cautious critical reflective Type analytical political When to use this quote - government negotiations - international crises - media analysis - public diplomacy Key Concepts realpolitik reputation management moral hazard Questions to Reflect On - Is credibility more important than truth? - How should leaders balance reputation with ethical responsibility? A Different Perspective Reliance on credibility may ignore moral considerations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Called Credibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-credibility-969369/) [Chemical weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemical-weapons/) [Chemicals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemicals/) [Commentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commentary/) [Credibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credibility/) [Credibility Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credibility-read-969370/) [Credibility Violate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credibility-violate-969368/) [Credible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credible/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Foreign policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreign-policy/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-leader/) [Political leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-leaders/) [Political leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-leadership/) [Reports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reports/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Stakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stakes/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Syria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syria/) [Syria Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syria-used-969367/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) ## Related quotes > [If in fact, the US story is correct, if it is true that Syria used chemical weapons, then it wouldn't be a major crime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-in-fact-the-us-story-is-correct-if-it-is-true-that-syria-used/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are two forces that build that invisible gigantic machine called credibility that opens every door of success:Trustworthiness and expertise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-two-forces-that-build-that-invisible-gigantic-machine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Israel produces and stores chemical weapons. So therefore the US will prevent the Chemical Weapons Convention from being imposed on the Middle East. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/israel-produces-and-stores-chemical-weapons-so-therefore-the-us-will/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ Luckily for \[Barack\] Obama, the Russians came along and rescued him with this proposal \[to confiscate Assad's chemical weapons\] which he quickly accepted -… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/luckily-for-barack-obama-the-russians-came-along-and-rescued-him-with/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ What happened in Syria was, President \[Barack\] Obama had made a statement announcing what he called his "red line": You can't use chemical weapons,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/what-happened-in-syria-was-president-barack-obama-had-made-a/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [This would be a very good moment to institute a call for imposing the Chemical Weapons Convention on the Middle East. The actual Chemical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/this-would-be-a-very-good-moment-to-institute-a-call-for-imposing-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“They were following me because I was ahead of them, which is no way to choose a leader. Following someone simply because they're out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-huffman/they-were-following-me-because-i-was-ahead-of-them-which-is-no-way-to/) [Alan Huffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-huffman/) > [Public charities, foodbanks and church pantries are doing more than ever before, but they can't keep up with the need. We can never end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/public-charities-foodbanks-and-church-pantries-are-doing-more-than/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [My assessment is that we have a crisis in national political leadership. When will America recognize the danger we face? When will the corrosive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-sanchez/my-assessment-is-that-we-have-a-crisis-in-national-political/) [Ricardo Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-sanchez/) > [Donald Trump's meeting with the president of Mexico comes after months of bashing that country and its political leadership. Trump has called the Mexican…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kornacki/donald-trump-s-meeting-with-the-president-of-mexico-comes-after/) [Steve Kornacki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kornacki/) > [The Chinese public is deeply nationalist, which matters to China's unelected political leadership as much as U.S. nationalism does to American politicians. As China…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-chinese-public-is-deeply-nationalist-which-matters-to-china-s/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [It is not a sensible or intelligent response for us in Europe to ridicule American arguments and parody their political leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/it-is-not-a-sensible-or-intelligent-response-for-us-in-europe-to/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [What we need is political leadership which can give guidance to the development of global governance. 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Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ I wrote an article about the marine landing \[in Haiti\] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-landing-in-haiti-right-away-but/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [American society is now remarkably atomized. Political organizations have collapsed. In fact, it seems like even bowling leagues are collapsing. The left has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/american-society-is-now-remarkably-atomized-political-organizations/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. 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