--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can no longer apply the classic…" description: "\"We can no longer apply the classic criteria to clearly determine whether and when we should use military force. We are waging war in Afghanistan, for e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/685/otto-schily-24233_afghanistan_we-can-no-longer-apply-the-classic-crite_1742779.jpg" --- # We can no longer apply the classic criteria to clearly… ![“We can no longer apply the classic criteria to clearly determine whether and when we should use military force. We are waging war in Afghanistan, for example, but it's an asymmetrical war where the enemies are criminals instead of soldiers.” quote by Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/685/otto-schily-24233_afghanistan_we-can-no-longer-apply-the-classic-crite_1742779.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/685/otto-schily-24233_afghanistan_we-can-no-longer-apply-the-classic-crite_1742779.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/685/otto-schily-24233_afghanistan_we-can-no-longer-apply-the-classic-crite_1742779.jpg) > “We can no longer apply the classic criteria to clearly determine whether and when we should use military force. We are waging war in Afghanistan, for example, but it's an asymmetrical war where the enemies are criminals instead of soldiers.” [Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Traditional war criteria no longer fit irregular conflicts where combatants are non‑state actors and objectives differ. **In simple terms:** Old rules don’t work for irregular wars. Key Takeaway Reassess policies for asymmetric conflicts. Themes war ethics policy asymmetry military strategy Mood critical analytical concerned Type policy philosophical strategic When to use this quote - government decision‑making - military planning - international law - public debate Key Concepts Just war theory counterinsurgency legal norms Questions to Reflect On - How should legitimacy be judged in asymmetric wars? - What safeguards protect civilians? A Different Perspective Traditional criteria may ignore civilian harm and complex motives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) [Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminals/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Military force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military-force/) [Waging war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waging-war/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [My advice is: 1. Be judicious in the use of military force. 2. When military force is required, use overwhelming force. 3. Do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-stivers/my-advice-is-1-be-judicious-in-the-use-of-military-force-2-when/) [Steve Stivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-stivers/) > [If you are going to use military force, then you ought to use overwhelming military force. Use too much and deliberately use too much;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-lemay/if-you-are-going-to-use-military-force-then-you-ought-to-use/) [Curtis LeMay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-lemay/) > [We need, from time to time, to use military force or all of the resources at our command in order to defend the nation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/we-need-from-time-to-time-to-use-military-force-or-all-of-the/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [We don't have any intention whatsoever to use military force to solve the Palestinian problem. But when it comes to terror - when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-sharon/we-don-t-have-any-intention-whatsoever-to-use-military-force-to-solve/) [Ariel Sharon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-sharon/) > [We should never hesitate to use military force, and I will not, as president, in order to keep the American people safe. But we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-should-never-hesitate-to-use-military-force-and-i-will-not-as/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I don't think we need to have an either/or debate about the use of military force - I think you can be both tough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-don-t-think-we-need-to-have-an-either-or-debate-about-the-use-of/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We have an authorization to use military force against terrorists. We passed it after 9/11.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-have-an-authorization-to-use-military-force-against-terrorists-we/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Any time you use military force, you have got to have a clear purpose that military forces can achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/any-time-you-use-military-force-you-have-got-to-have-a-clear-purpose/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [For interests that are vital to the U.S. - that is, essential for our survival and wellbeing - the U.S. should be prepared to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-t-allison/for-interests-that-are-vital-to-the-u-s-that-is-essential-for-our/) [Graham T. Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-t-allison/) > [I think most Americans believe that although it's better not to use military force if you can avoid it, that the world simply doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kagan/i-think-most-americans-believe-that-although-it-s-better-not-to-use/) [Robert Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kagan/) > [ I would be so happy if we never had to use \[military\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-would-be-so-happy-if-we-never-had-to-use-military/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The U.S. can no longer be the sheriff for the whole world. We can't be everywhere, and we can't always use military boots on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dutch-ruppersberger/the-u-s-can-no-longer-be-the-sheriff-for-the-whole-world-we-can-t-be/) [Dutch Ruppersberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dutch-ruppersberger/) > [I am an Air Force brat - that's the terminology they use for military kids who are traveling constantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-an-air-force-brat-that-s-the-terminology-they-use-for-military/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If there are threats to the United States, then I would of course go back to the president and make a recommendation that may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-dempsey/if-there-are-threats-to-the-united-states-then-i-would-of-course-go/) [Martin Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-dempsey/) > [I am the most militaristic person but you have to know when to use the military. Or have it so strong that nobody is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-am-the-most-militaristic-person-but-you-have-to-know-when-to-use/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) ## More by Otto Schily > [The terrorists who committed the 2003 Istanbul attacks were locals, that is, Turks. And when filmmaker Theo van Gogh was murdered in the Netherlands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-schily/the-terrorists-who-committed-the-2003-istanbul-attacks-were-locals/) [Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) > [Arresting and detaining these dangerous people can make sense, at least until a final decision is reached on their deportation. However, such detention must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-schily/arresting-and-detaining-these-dangerous-people-can-make-sense-at/) [Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) > [There is no question that Iraq is one of the main problems. You'd have to be blind not to see what a magnet and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-schily/there-is-no-question-that-iraq-is-one-of-the-main-problems-you-d-have/) [Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) > [Freedom of the press is not questioned when investigative journalism unearths scandals, But that does not mean that every classified state document should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-schily/freedom-of-the-press-is-not-questioned-when-investigative-journalism/) [Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) > [Nevertheless, I do know that we are part of a danger zone, we have military operations in Afghanistan and we're training the Iraqi police…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-schily/nevertheless-i-do-know-that-we-are-part-of-a-danger-zone-we-have/) [Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) > [Incidentally, our railroad facilities are under video surveillance by the federal police. However, the federal and state governments will have to determine whether video…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-schily/incidentally-our-railroad-facilities-are-under-video-surveillance-by/) [Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) > [Who knows what would have become of me, if my parents had not had their influence on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-schily/who-knows-what-would-have-become-of-me-if-my-parents-had-not-had/) [Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) > [This fanaticism is what feeds terrorism. And this is precisely why Muslims must play an active role in opposing hate sermons and incitement to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-schily/this-fanaticism-is-what-feeds-terrorism-and-this-is-precisely-why/) [Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) > [We feel very honored to have been offered the responsibility to host this great event, Berlin is a wonderful city that is developing at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-schily/we-feel-very-honored-to-have-been-offered-the-responsibility-to-host/) [Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) > [The military has been tremendously important in the past during catastrophes and in protecting the population. But it shouldn't become an auxiliary police force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-schily/the-military-has-been-tremendously-important-in-the-past-during/) [Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) > [On September 11 last year international terrorism entered a new dimension.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-schily/on-september-11-last-year-international-terrorism-entered-a-new/) [Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) > [After Madrid, we intensified our investigative efforts once again, and we are in the process of bringing about expansions in security laws and creating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-schily/after-madrid-we-intensified-our-investigative-efforts-once-again-and/) [Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) > [It is a warning to all those who may think about becoming involved with a terrorist network, people who are willing to destroy their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-schily/it-is-a-warning-to-all-those-who-may-think-about-becoming-involved/) [Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) > [On the other hand, all kinds of adventurous schemes to add security checkpoints to subway and bus systems have been circulating since the London…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-schily/on-the-other-hand-all-kinds-of-adventurous-schemes-to-add-security/) [Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) > [We cannot allow violence from militant activists to dictate where and how democratically elected state leaders hold their meetings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-schily/we-cannot-allow-violence-from-militant-activists-to-dictate-where-and/) [Otto Schily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) [Explore all 24 Otto Schily quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-schily/) ## 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": "We can no longer apply the classic criteria to clearly determine whether and when we should use military force. 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