--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For us, the idea was not to get involved…" description: "\"For us, the idea was not to get involved more than necessary in the fight against the Russians, which was the business of the Americans, but rather to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/osama-bin-laden-10612_afghanistan_for-us-the-idea-was-not-to-get-involved_591175.jpg" --- # For us, the idea was not to get involved more than… ![“For us, the idea was not to get involved more than necessary in the fight against the Russians, which was the business of the Americans, but rather to show our solidarity with our Islamist brothers. I discovered that it was not enough to fight in Afghanistan, but that we had to fight on all fronts…” quote by Osama bin Laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/osama-bin-laden-10612_afghanistan_for-us-the-idea-was-not-to-get-involved_591175.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/osama-bin-laden-10612_afghanistan_for-us-the-idea-was-not-to-get-involved_591175.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/osama-bin-laden-10612_afghanistan_for-us-the-idea-was-not-to-get-involved_591175.jpg) > “For us, the idea was not to get involved more than necessary in the fight against the Russians, which was the business of the Americans, but rather to show our solidarity with our Islamist brothers. I discovered that it was not enough to fight in Afghanistan, but that we had to fight on all fronts against communist or Western oppression. The urgent thing was communism, but the next target was America... This is an open war up to the end, until victory.” [Osama bin Laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osama-bin-laden/) ## 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 argues that their struggle should focus on supporting Islamist allies and fighting both communism and Western influence, viewing the conflict as a perpetual, global war. **In simple terms:** Support Islamist allies and oppose Western/communist forces worldwide. Key Takeaway Prioritize global solidarity against perceived oppression. Themes politics conflict ideology solidarity war Mood defiant radical militant Type political propaganda ideological When to use this quote - terrorist recruitment - foreign policy debates - counterterrorism strategies - media analysis Key Concepts Jihadist ideology anti-imperialism global struggle Questions to Reflect On - How does framing conflict as a religious duty affect policy? - What are the moral implications of targeting civilians? A Different Perspective The view oversimplifies complex geopolitics and ignores civilian suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Communism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communism/) [Communist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communist/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression/) [Solidarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solidarity/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) ## Related quotes > [One is the goals of 9/11 itself, of that attack was to draw the United States into Afghanistan to fight a counterinsurgency as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-danner/one-is-the-goals-of-9-11-itself-of-that-attack-was-to-draw-the-united/) [Mark Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-danner/) > [We should have completed the fight in Afghanistan instead of starting a new war in Iraq.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-duckworth/we-should-have-completed-the-fight-in-afghanistan-instead-of-starting/) [Tammy Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-duckworth/) > [I didn't go out looking for fights as a kid, but if it was necessary, I'd fight. Fighting was a daily thing where we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-vega/i-didn-t-go-out-looking-for-fights-as-a-kid-but-if-it-was-necessary-i/) [Suzanne Vega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-vega/) > [In order to fight any issue, it is necessary to fight for something, not merely against something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/in-order-to-fight-any-issue-it-is-necessary-to-fight-for-something/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Never think of pain or danger or enemies a moment longer than is necessary to fight them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/never-think-of-pain-or-danger-or-enemies-a-moment-longer-than-is/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [I think that people don't necessary fight with or aren't necessarily beaten by weapons, but it' through their minds and what they think they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abderrahmane-sissako/i-think-that-people-don-t-necessary-fight-with-or-aren-t-necessarily/) [Abderrahmane Sissako](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abderrahmane-sissako/) > [Don't think of them now. Never think of pain or danger or enemies a moment longer than is necessary to fight them. You're here.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/don-t-think-of-them-now-never-think-of-pain-or-danger-or-enemies-a-2/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [The man who does not think it was America's duty to fight for her own sake in view of the infamous conduct of Germany…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-man-who-does-not-think-it-was-america-s-duty-to-fight-for-her-own/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“Don't think of them now. Never think of pain or danger or enemies a moment longer than is necessary to fight them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/don-t-think-of-them-now-never-think-of-pain-or-danger-or-enemies-a-3/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [To survive it is often necessary to fight and to fight you have to dirty yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/to-survive-it-is-often-necessary-to-fight-and-to-fight-you-have-to/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Don't think of them now. Never think of pain or danger or enemies a moment longer than is necessary to fight them. You're here.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/don-t-think-of-them-now-never-think-of-pain-or-danger-or-enemies-a/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“If you escape from a necessary fight, pray you will live long enough to wait for and deal with the same challenge that must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/if-you-escape-from-a-necessary-fight-pray-you-will-live-long-enough/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [Star Trek' is the McDonald's of science fiction; it's fast food storytelling. Every problem is like every other problem. They all get solved in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gerrold/star-trek-is-the-mcdonald-s-of-science-fiction-it-s-fast-food/) [David Gerrold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gerrold/) > [When we first met, I didn't want to get involved with anyone. I didn't have the time or energy, and I wasn't sure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/when-we-first-met-i-didn-t-want-to-get-involved-with-anyone-i-didn-t/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [I feel like J.K. Rowling's world is one that is owned by everyone in some ways. People have grown up with it and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/i-feel-like-j-k-rowling-s-world-is-one-that-is-owned-by-everyone-in/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) ## More by Osama bin Laden > [Praise be Allah and prayers and peace upon Mohammed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osama-bin-laden/praise-be-allah-and-prayers-and-peace-upon-mohammed/) [Osama bin Laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osama-bin-laden/) > [We have not found it difficult to deal with the Bush administration in light of the resemblance that it bears to the regimes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osama-bin-laden/we-have-not-found-it-difficult-to-deal-with-the-bush-administration/) [Osama bin Laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osama-bin-laden/) > [“We are following with great concern the preparations of the crusaders to launch war on the former capital of Muslims...and to install a puppet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osama-bin-laden/we-are-following-with-great-concern-the-preparations-of-the-crusaders/) [Osama bin Laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osama-bin-laden/) > [The war is between us and the Jews. Any country that steps into the same trench as the Jews has only itself to blame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osama-bin-laden/the-war-is-between-us-and-the-jews-any-country-that-steps-into-the/) [Osama bin Laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osama-bin-laden/) > [As long as I am alive there will be no rest for the enemies of Islam. I will continue my mission against them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osama-bin-laden/as-long-as-i-am-alive-there-will-be-no-rest-for-the-enemies-of-islam/) [Osama bin Laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osama-bin-laden/) > [When people see a strong horse and a weak horse, by nature they will like the strong horse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osama-bin-laden/when-people-see-a-strong-horse-and-a-weak-horse-by-nature-they-will/) [Osama bin Laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osama-bin-laden/) > [They were overjoyed when the first plane hit the building, so I said to them: be patient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osama-bin-laden/they-were-overjoyed-when-the-first-plane-hit-the-building-so-i-said/) [Osama bin Laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osama-bin-laden/) > [We treat them in the same way. Those who kill our women and innocent, we kill their women and innocent, until they refrain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osama-bin-laden/we-treat-them-in-the-same-way-those-who-kill-our-women-and-innocent/) [Osama bin Laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osama-bin-laden/) > [Acquiring weapons for the defense of Muslims is a religious duty... If I seek to acquire these weapons, I am carrying out a duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osama-bin-laden/acquiring-weapons-for-the-defense-of-muslims-is-a-religious-duty-if-i/) [Osama bin Laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osama-bin-laden/) > [Even as you enter the fourth year after the Sept. 11 attacks, Bush is still misleading and deluding you and hiding the real reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osama-bin-laden/even-as-you-enter-the-fourth-year-after-the-sept-11-attacks-bush-is/) [Osama bin Laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osama-bin-laden/) > [All that we have to do is to send two mujahedeen to the furthest point east to raise a piece of cloth on which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osama-bin-laden/all-that-we-have-to-do-is-to-send-two-mujahedeen-to-the-furthest/) [Osama bin Laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osama-bin-laden/) > [Speaking about climate change is not a matter of intellectual luxury – the phenomenon is an actual fact … all of the industrialised countries,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osama-bin-laden/speaking-about-climate-change-is-not-a-matter-of-intellectual-luxury/) [Osama bin Laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osama-bin-laden/) > [I support any Muslims, whether here or abroad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osama-bin-laden/i-support-any-muslims-whether-here-or-abroad/) [Osama bin Laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osama-bin-laden/) > [We are continuing this policy in bleeding America to the point of bankruptcy. Allah willing, and nothing is too great for Allah,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osama-bin-laden/we-are-continuing-this-policy-in-bleeding-america-to-the-point-of/) [Osama bin Laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osama-bin-laden/) > [And so it has appeared to some analysts and diplomats that the White House and us are playing as one team toward the economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osama-bin-laden/and-so-it-has-appeared-to-some-analysts-and-diplomats-that-the-white/) [Osama bin Laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osama-bin-laden/) [Explore all 64 Osama bin Laden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osama-bin-laden/) ## More Afghanistan 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [They're criminals, they brutalized Afghanistan, they killed our people, they destroyed our land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamid-karzai/they-re-criminals-they-brutalized-afghanistan-they-killed-our-people/) [Hamid Karzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamid-karzai/) > [In 2001, we were told that the war in Afghanistan was a feminist mission. The marines were liberating Afghan women from the Taliban. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/in-2001-we-were-told-that-the-war-in-afghanistan-was-a-feminist/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [The terrorist attacks of September 11th and the courageous actions of our armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq remind us that friends of tyranny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/the-terrorist-attacks-of-september-11th-and-the-courageous-actions-of/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [According to a recent Harvard study, $6 trillion, when you include the ongoing healthcare expenses for our wounded soldiers, which is the least they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/according-to-a-recent-harvard-study-6-trillion-when-you-include-the/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [You don't bargain with terrorists. You don't appease terrorists. And anybody who believes that this is about something we've done has to ask themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/you-don-t-bargain-with-terrorists-you-don-t-appease-terrorists-and/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [“I stood with my mom in the cemetery. She felt terrible pain. My grandmother is with God. My mom has to continue living. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-elliot/i-stood-with-my-mom-in-the-cemetery-she-felt-terrible-pain-my/) [Tucker Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-elliot/) > [The most successful cultural diplomacy strategy integrates people-to-people or arts/culture/media-to-people interactions into the basic business of diplomacy. The programs in Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-p-schneider/the-most-successful-cultural-diplomacy-strategy-integrates-people-to/) [Cynthia P. Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-p-schneider/) > [Because Iran understands Afghanistan far better than Americans do, making Iran a partner in a long-term effort to transform Afghan agriculture makes sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/because-iran-understands-afghanistan-far-better-than-americans-do/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Thousands of Americans have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq upholding their oaths and defending this nation. Chelsea Manning broke her oath and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/thousands-of-americans-have-given-their-lives-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I have been to Afghanistan many times, even before the Taliban collapsed. I was fascinated by the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-khan/i-have-been-to-afghanistan-many-times-even-before-the-taliban/) [Kabir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-khan/) > [There has been sort of, if you will, a moral interventionism on the part of the United States trying to reshape countries in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/there-has-been-sort-of-if-you-will-a-moral-interventionism-on-the/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The legal system in Afghanistan is very immature and porous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/the-legal-system-in-afghanistan-is-very-immature-and-porous/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) [Browse all 1,159 Afghanistan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For us, the idea was not to get involved more than necessary in the fight against the Russians, which was the business of the Americans, but rather to show our solidarity with our Islamist brothers. 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