--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The U.S. ultimately decides what the…" description: "\"The U.S. ultimately decides what the national security threat is. They put Russia one, Iran two, China three - the terrorists are down the list. But it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c51/oliver-stone-1812_calm_the-u-s-ultimately-decides-what-the-nati_2695178.jpg" --- # The U.S. ultimately decides what the national security… ![“The U.S. ultimately decides what the national security threat is. They put Russia one, Iran two, China three - the terrorists are down the list. But it's amazing to me that we can still consider Russia a threat. On the contrary, they've been very helpful in the Middle East, trying to calm the…” quote by Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c51/oliver-stone-1812_calm_the-u-s-ultimately-decides-what-the-nati_2695178.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c51/oliver-stone-1812_calm_the-u-s-ultimately-decides-what-the-nati_2695178.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c51/oliver-stone-1812_calm_the-u-s-ultimately-decides-what-the-nati_2695178.jpg) > “The U.S. ultimately decides what the national security threat is. They put Russia one, Iran two, China three - the terrorists are down the list. But it's amazing to me that we can still consider Russia a threat. On the contrary, they've been very helpful in the Middle East, trying to calm the situation and respect the rights of sovereign countries to exist. It's the U.S. that hasn't - whether in Serbia, the old Yugoslavia, in Africa, and now, Iraq.” [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The US defines national threats, often ranking Russia, Iran, China, while overlooking past interventions. **In simple terms:** US decides threats, ranks nations, ignores own actions. Key Takeaway Question how threat rankings are set. Themes foreign policy national security threat assessment geopolitics US politics Mood critical reflective Type political historical When to use this quote - policy analysis - diplomacy - military strategy - public opinion Key Concepts realism power politics historical context Questions to Reflect On - Why are certain countries labeled threats? - How do past US actions affect current threat perception? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex international relations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Calm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Middle east](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-east/) [National security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-security/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) ## Related quotes > [I tried to come up with a definition of this new paradigm in six articles entitled "Russia after Putin." I would consider Russia's integration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/i-tried-to-come-up-with-a-definition-of-this-new-paradigm-in-six/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [I don't believe that Russia's a threat for Europe. I think that's a big scam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/i-don-t-believe-that-russia-s-a-threat-for-europe-i-think-that-s-a/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [Russia is not a threat to France - why should I be hostile to Russia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/russia-is-not-a-threat-to-france-why-should-i-be-hostile-to-russia/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [I don't mean to minimize Russia. They are a serious national security threat, but day in, day out, the threats that we face from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratcliffe/i-don-t-mean-to-minimize-russia-they-are-a-serious-national-security/) [John Ratcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratcliffe/) > [China poses a greater national security threat to the U.S. than any other nation - economically, militarily and technologically. That includes threats of election…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratcliffe/china-poses-a-greater-national-security-threat-to-the-u-s-than-any/) [John Ratcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratcliffe/) > [There is no doubt that the CCP is our greatest geopolitical and national security threat, and everything they do is as our adversary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-britt/there-is-no-doubt-that-the-ccp-is-our-greatest-geopolitical-and/) [Katie Britt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-britt/) > [Keep Ukraine out of NATO, urge Putin to respect international boundaries and issue a credible threat: If Russia invades Ukraine, then the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/keep-ukraine-out-of-nato-urge-putin-to-respect-international/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [The threat to Russia isn't liberal Europe or America. It is nonliberal Islam and nonliberal China. Russia has to change. It can't be otherwise.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-michnik/the-threat-to-russia-isn-t-liberal-europe-or-america-it-is-nonliberal/) [Adam Michnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-michnik/) > [Many observers believe that the greatest damage Russia has done to U.S. interests in recent years stems from the Kremlin's interference in the 2016…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-daalder/many-observers-believe-that-the-greatest-damage-russia-has-done-to-u/) [Ivo Daalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-daalder/) > [You made these things up yourselves and now scare yourselves with them and even use them to plan your prospective policies. These policies have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/you-made-these-things-up-yourselves-and-now-scare-yourselves-with/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [Americans were outraged by Russia's interference in our presidential election, but a wider threat is Russia's doctrine of hybrid warfare, which includes cybersabotage of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-shaheen/americans-were-outraged-by-russia-s-interference-in-our-presidential/) [Jeanne Shaheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-shaheen/) > [Hezbollah, Hamas, Al-Qaeda, they all have ties to Iranian money. I think they are the biggest exist - existential threat... Russia could be up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bolling/hezbollah-hamas-al-qaeda-they-all-have-ties-to-iranian-money-i-think/) [Eric Bolling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bolling/) > [“we can figure that out, including how to talk about it in a way that Americans will understand and support, that will be both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/we-can-figure-that-out-including-how-to-talk-about-it-in-a-way-that/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [Iraq is a long way from the U.S., but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/iraq-is-a-long-way-from-the-u-s-but-what-happens-there-matters-a/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Unchecked, government social programs are a security threat because they weaken the ultimate line of defense: the free-born citizen whose responsibilities are not subcontracted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/unchecked-government-social-programs-are-a-security-threat-because/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) ## More by Oliver Stone > [“The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion (to which few members of other religions were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/the-west-won-the-world-not-by-the-superiority-of-its-ideas-or-values/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [I'm a dramatist. Dramatists have a right to look at history and interpret it the way they see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/i-m-a-dramatist-dramatists-have-a-right-to-look-at-history-and/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [Christianity did take a lot of Greek concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/christianity-did-take-a-lot-of-greek-concepts/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [I've liked different women at different times in my life. I've been attracted to white women. I've been attracted to black women. I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/i-ve-liked-different-women-at-different-times-in-my-life-i-ve-been/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [By creating false environment of a war on drugs, and cruel and unusual punishment with these crimes, 50% of our U.S. population is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/by-creating-false-environment-of-a-war-on-drugs-and-cruel-and-unusual/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [Everyone in the world is impacted by the United States' Big Brother attitude toward the world. We need countries to say no to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/everyone-in-the-world-is-impacted-by-the-united-states-big-brother/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [I might as well be myself. Everyone else is taken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/i-might-as-well-be-myself-everyone-else-is-taken/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [I didn't like my classmates at Yale. George W.Bush was in my class. I didn't know it then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/i-didn-t-like-my-classmates-at-yale-george-w-bush-was-in-my-class-i/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [There is this thing about time that you can't see at the time you're at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/there-is-this-thing-about-time-that-you-can-t-see-at-the-time-you-re/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [I'm trying to understand my life. The one that I've experienced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/i-m-trying-to-understand-my-life-the-one-that-i-ve-experienced/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [Obama is now fighting for his life. He's fighting for a federal government. I believe in a federal government. I hope it sticks around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/obama-is-now-fighting-for-his-life-he-s-fighting-for-a-federal/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [Anybody who's been through a divorce will tell you that at one point. they've thought murder. The line between thinking murder and doing murder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/anybody-who-s-been-through-a-divorce-will-tell-you-that-at-one-point/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [The worst nightmare I ever had about Vietnam was that I had to go back. I woke up in a sweat, in total terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/the-worst-nightmare-i-ever-had-about-vietnam-was-that-i-had-to-go/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [There are a few versions of the Alexander movie on video, only two that matter. One is from 2007, and then the one from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/there-are-a-few-versions-of-the-alexander-movie-on-video-only-two/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [I gave up on America. I read the Times just to find out what they're thinking. I read blogs. I get most of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/i-gave-up-on-america-i-read-the-times-just-to-find-out-what-they-re/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) [Explore all 207 Oliver Stone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) ## More Calm quotes > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“After the storm, reigns the calm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simdi-onuora/after-the-storm-reigns-the-calm/) Simdi Onuora > [So mightiest powers buy deepest calms are fed, And sleep, how oft, in things that gentlest be!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-procter/so-mightiest-powers-buy-deepest-calms-are-fed-and-sleep-how-oft-in/) [Bryan Procter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-procter/) > [KEEP CALM and HAVE A SUGAR CUBE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/keep-calm-and-have-a-sugar-cube/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [To practice Aikido fully you must calm the spirit and go back to the origin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/to-practice-aikido-fully-you-must-calm-the-spirit-and-go-back-to-the/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [You imagine that I look back on my life's work with calm satisfaction. But from nearby it looks quite different. There is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/you-imagine-that-i-look-back-on-my-life-s-work-with-calm-satisfaction/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/) [Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/) > [The goal of the operation is to send Gaza back to the Middle Ages, only then will Israel be calm for the next 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ben-ari/the-goal-of-the-operation-is-to-send-gaza-back-to-the-middle-ages/) Michael Ben-Ari > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [When I was a child I truly loved: Unthinking love as calm and deep As the North Sea. 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With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Religious work is one of the best ways to keep from facing your reality if you are Christian, if you are using it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-from-facing-your/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) [Browse all 3,074 Calm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The U.S. ultimately decides what the national security threat is. They put Russia one, Iran two, China three - the terrorists are down the list. But it's amazing to me that we can still consider Russia a threat. 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