--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Saddam Hussein was a brutal tyrant. I am…" description: "\"Saddam Hussein was a brutal tyrant. I am glad he is now on trial for crimes against humanity. But, opposition to a dictator is not the measure I use wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0d/peter-defazio-23397_brutal_saddam-hussein-was-a-brutal-tyrant-i-am_245358.jpg" --- # Saddam Hussein was a brutal tyrant. I am glad he is now on… ![“Saddam Hussein was a brutal tyrant. I am glad he is now on trial for crimes against humanity. But, opposition to a dictator is not the measure I use when deciding whether to send our men and women in uniform off to war and possible death.” quote by Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0d/peter-defazio-23397_brutal_saddam-hussein-was-a-brutal-tyrant-i-am_245358.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0d/peter-defazio-23397_brutal_saddam-hussein-was-a-brutal-tyrant-i-am_245358.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0d/peter-defazio-23397_brutal_saddam-hussein-was-a-brutal-tyrant-i-am_245358.jpg) > “Saddam Hussein was a brutal tyrant. I am glad he is now on trial for crimes against humanity. But, opposition to a dictator is not the measure I use when deciding whether to send our men and women in uniform off to war and possible death.” [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) ## 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 distinguishes moral opposition to tyranny from the decision to engage in war, urging broader criteria beyond dictatorial opposition. **In simple terms:** Opposing dictators isn’t the only reason to go to war. Key Takeaway Consider all consequences before supporting military action. Themes war ethics politics human rights Mood serious reflective Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy debates - military planning - public discourse - humanitarian crises Key Concepts just war theory political responsibility humanitarian intervention Questions to Reflect On - What other factors should guide decisions to use force? - How do we balance moral outrage with practical outcomes? A Different Perspective War decisions also involve strategic, legal, and humanitarian complexities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brutal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutal/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Crimes against humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimes-against-humanity/) [Dictator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictator/) [Glad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glad/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Hussein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hussein/) [Hussein Brutal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hussein-brutal-1039503/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) [Opposition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposition/) [Opposition Dictator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposition-dictator-2450659/) [Saddam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saddam/) [Saddam hussein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saddam-hussein/) [Trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials/) [Tyrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyrants/) [Uniforms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uniforms/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Saddam Hussein has been brutal against his people, but when he was committing those crimes, the international community did not come to the rescue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/saddam-hussein-has-been-brutal-against-his-people-but-when-he-was/) [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) > [Now let me be clear - I suffer no illusions about Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal man. A ruthless man. A man who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/now-let-me-be-clear-i-suffer-no-illusions-about-saddam-hussein-he-is/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [To the contrary, I believe the U.S. military has already done all that has been asked of them. Saddam Hussein is on trial. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/to-the-contrary-i-believe-the-u-s-military-has-already-done-all-that/) [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) > [Giving peace a chance only gives Saddam Hussein more time to prepare for war on his terms, at a time of his choosing, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/giving-peace-a-chance-only-gives-saddam-hussein-more-time-to-prepare/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I think all of the attention of the world, to include the attention of the Arab world, should be on Saddam Hussein and whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/i-think-all-of-the-attention-of-the-world-to-include-the-attention-of/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [There's no question that Saddam Hussein is a threat to the United States and to our allies. If Saddam persists in thumbing his nose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/there-s-no-question-that-saddam-hussein-is-a-threat-to-the-united/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [Let's be clear: Neither Secretary Powell or I opposed the notion of removing Saddam Hussein by force, but we wanted to avoid the war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/let-s-be-clear-neither-secretary-powell-or-i-opposed-the-notion-of/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [But the world is a better place with Saddam Hussein gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/but-the-world-is-a-better-place-with-saddam-hussein-gone/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [If it was up to the U.N., Saddam Hussein would still be killing his own people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-carlson/if-it-was-up-to-the-u-n-saddam-hussein-would-still-be-killing-his-own/) [Tucker Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-carlson/) > [There's no question that Saddam Hussein is a threat Yes, he has chemical and biological weapons. He's had those for a long time. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-clark/there-s-no-question-that-saddam-hussein-is-a-threat-yes-he-has/) [Wesley Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-clark/) > [Under Saddam Hussein, the nation of Iraq possessed and used chemical weapons against both their own Kurdish population and Iranian military forces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/under-saddam-hussein-the-nation-of-iraq-possessed-and-used-chemical/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [ \[Saddam Hussein\] could have easily reconstituted a program. He was a threat to peace before we went in. He'd have been a threat to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/saddam-hussein-could-have-easily-reconstituted-a-program-he-was-a/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-british-government-has-learned-that-saddam-hussein-recently/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We are well aware that he spent many hours recently tape recording various messages... we need to do a little more analysis of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-hoon/we-are-well-aware-that-he-spent-many-hours-recently-tape-recording/) [Geoff Hoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-hoon/) > [ Asked who attacked America on 9/11, \[Sarah Palin\] suggested several times that it was Saddam Hussein. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/asked-who-attacked-america-on-9-11-sarah-palin-suggested-several/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Peter DeFazio > [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/) > [It was Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda who attacked the U.S. on September 11, 2001, not Saddam Hussein and Iraq.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/it-was-osama-bin-laden-and-al-qaeda-who-attacked-the-u-s-on-september/) [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) > [About 75 percent of the crude oil marketed here is sold off the books, and they are doing trades that would be illegal if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/about-75-percent-of-the-crude-oil-marketed-here-is-sold-off-the-books/) [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) > [In addition to a timeline, I have proposed that U.S. troops be removed from front line combat positions in Iraqi cities and towns, turning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/in-addition-to-a-timeline-i-have-proposed-that-u-s-troops-be-removed/) [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) > [Insecurity is failing the American people miserably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/insecurity-is-failing-the-american-people-miserably/) [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) > [Of the 55 refineries closed in America in the last 10 years, they were all closed for economic reasons, mostly oil company mergers. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/of-the-55-refineries-closed-in-america-in-the-last-10-years-they-were/) [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) > [First off, the crude oil market, unlike every other commodity in America, is virtually unregulated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/first-off-the-crude-oil-market-unlike-every-other-commodity-in/) [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) > [The U.S. cannot force Sunnis, Shias, and Kurds to make peace or to act for the common good. They have been in conflict for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/the-u-s-cannot-force-sunnis-shias-and-kurds-to-make-peace-or-to-act/) [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) > [Nor should the U.S. military be forced to remain in Iraq essentially as an army for one side of a civil war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/nor-should-the-u-s-military-be-forced-to-remain-in-iraq-essentially/) [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) > [The U.S. must renounce any U.S. interest in constructing permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/the-u-s-must-renounce-any-u-s-interest-in-constructing-permanent-u-s/) [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) > [The training and equipping of Iraqi security forces should be accelerated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/the-training-and-equipping-of-iraqi-security-forces-should-be/) [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) > [To the contrary, I believe the U.S. military has already done all that has been asked of them. Saddam Hussein is on trial. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/to-the-contrary-i-believe-the-u-s-military-has-already-done-all-that/) [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) > [Similarly, establishing a firm timeline for bringing our troops home could accelerate the development of Iraqi security forces and deepen their commitment to defending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/similarly-establishing-a-firm-timeline-for-bringing-our-troops-home/) [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) > [But they are not going to take on Big Oil because Big Oil is very generous at campaign time, and this is all about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/but-they-are-not-going-to-take-on-big-oil-because-big-oil-is-very/) [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) > [In crude oil trading, we have seen a 46 percent increase over 1 year in the margins there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/in-crude-oil-trading-we-have-seen-a-46-percent-increase-over-1-year/) [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) [Explore all 26 Peter DeFazio quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) ## More Brutal quotes > [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 novel is the dream release, the suspension of reality that history needs to escape its own brutal confinements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/the-novel-is-the-dream-release-the-suspension-of-reality-that-history/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [Hitler recruited around him homosexuals to make up his Stormtroopers, they were his enforcers, they were his thugs. And Hitler discovered that he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-fischer/hitler-recruited-around-him-homosexuals-to-make-up-his-stormtroopers/) [Bryan Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-fischer/) > [The Lord expects us to enjoy our lives. He says there will be some brutal times, but we shouldn't get all bent out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-henderson/the-lord-expects-us-to-enjoy-our-lives-he-says-there-will-be-some/) [Paul Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-henderson/) > [We face a brutal enemy who will kill the innocent for one purpose and that is to gain control of the Middle East and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/we-face-a-brutal-enemy-who-will-kill-the-innocent-for-one-purpose-and/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [No matter how well-born, how intelligent, how highly educated, how virtuous, how rich, how refined, the women of to-day constitutea political class below that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-corinna-putnam-jacobi/no-matter-how-well-born-how-intelligent-how-highly-educated-how/) [Mary Corinna Putnam Jacobi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-corinna-putnam-jacobi/) > [I find that truly heartbreaking that, like, it's such a common, constant thing in people's lives - a brutal abuse of people by other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-duritz/i-find-that-truly-heartbreaking-that-like-it-s-such-a-common-constant/) [Adam Duritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-duritz/) > [I think brutal honesty is extremely important. Don't be afraid of being up-front about your feelings and your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minka-kelly/i-think-brutal-honesty-is-extremely-important-don-t-be-afraid-of/) [Minka Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minka-kelly/) > [When my friends have been heartbroken, I give them a shoulder to cry on and some brutal advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maura-higgins/when-my-friends-have-been-heartbroken-i-give-them-a-shoulder-to-cry/) [Maura Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maura-higgins/) > [Something that comes to us, some gym shoe that comes to us as a result of child labor from a brutal dictatorship, where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/something-that-comes-to-us-some-gym-shoe-that-comes-to-us-as-a-result/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [In my experience sometimes the darker the material that you're doing, the more necessary it is to have some sort of levity around. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-stahl/in-my-experience-sometimes-the-darker-the-material-that-you-re-doing/) [Nick Stahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-stahl/) > [I do have one very brutal writing ritual. If I'm working in the morning, I don't allow myself a cup of tea until I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-lane/i-do-have-one-very-brutal-writing-ritual-if-i-m-working-in-the/) [Anthony Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-lane/) > [The circle of an empty day is brutal and at night it tightens around your neck like a noose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-ferrante/the-circle-of-an-empty-day-is-brutal-and-at-night-it-tightens-around/) [Elena Ferrante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-ferrante/) > [“I had brutal beginnings. I will not let the darkness in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jennings/i-had-brutal-beginnings-i-will-not-let-the-darkness-in/) [Melissa Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jennings/) > [Usually I avoided college students, whom I considered brutal, wrapped up in themselves, particularly in their youth, in which they found material for drama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/usually-i-avoided-college-students-whom-i-considered-brutal-wrapped/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 790 Brutal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Saddam Hussein was a brutal tyrant. I am glad he is now on trial for crimes against humanity. 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