--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think it's a huge mistake. I think…" description: "\"I think it's a huge mistake. I think regime change in Syria, and this is what - I've been saying this for several years now. In 2013 when we first went..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/rand-paul-606_allies_i-think-it-s-a-huge-mistake-i-think-regi_1867966.jpg" --- # I think it's a huge mistake. I think regime change in… ![“I think it's a huge mistake. I think regime change in Syria, and this is what - I've been saying this for several years now. In 2013 when we first went in, I said, you are going to give arms to the allies of al Qaida, to radical jihadists? That's crazy.” quote by Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/rand-paul-606_allies_i-think-it-s-a-huge-mistake-i-think-regi_1867966.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/rand-paul-606_allies_i-think-it-s-a-huge-mistake-i-think-regi_1867966.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/rand-paul-606_allies_i-think-it-s-a-huge-mistake-i-think-regi_1867966.jpg) > “I think it's a huge mistake. I think regime change in Syria, and this is what - I've been saying this for several years now. In 2013 when we first went in, I said, you are going to give arms to the allies of al Qaida, to radical jihadists? That's crazy.” [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticizes regime change in Syria as a mistake, warning it may empower extremist groups **In simple terms:** Regime change can backfire and empower enemies Key Takeaway Beware unintended consequences of intervention Themes politics foreign policy military intervention Mood cautious critical Type political analytical When to use this quote - policy debates - military planning - public advocacy Key Concepts blowback strategic miscalculation regional instability Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards could prevent empowering adversaries? - How to balance moral goals with strategic risk? A Different Perspective Complex geopolitics may limit simple solutions ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allies/) [Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/als/) [Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Syria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-syria-1632473/) [Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Huge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/huge/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Jihadists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jihadists/) [Jihadists Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jihadists-crazy-2558376/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Radical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radical/) [Radical Jihadists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radical-jihadists-568186/) [Regime change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regime-change/) [Regimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regimes/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Syria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syria/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [I also think regime change in Syria is a bad idea. And that's an ongoing question. It's one of the things I like about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-also-think-regime-change-in-syria-is-a-bad-idea-and-that-s-an/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [The Obama-Clinton administration gambled with America's national security by embracing radical jihadists, and the world lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hoekstra/the-obama-clinton-administration-gambled-with-america-s-national/) [Pete Hoekstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hoekstra/) > [There is a group of individuals who are radical jihadists. We need to call them by name. They believe it is OK to kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pawlenty/there-is-a-group-of-individuals-who-are-radical-jihadists-we-need-to/) [Tim Pawlenty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pawlenty/) > [Radical jihadists hate Americans for who we are. They cannot be managed. They cannot be trusted. Engaging them is a tragic fool's errand. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hoekstra/radical-jihadists-hate-americans-for-who-we-are-they-cannot-be/) [Pete Hoekstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hoekstra/) > [America needs to fully grasp the lessons learned from our history of fighting radical jihadists. There have been successes and failures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hoekstra/america-needs-to-fully-grasp-the-lessons-learned-from-our-history-of/) [Pete Hoekstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hoekstra/) > [Briefly after the 9/11 attacks, Republicans and Democrats were united in identifying the evil of the radical jihadists and fighting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hoekstra/briefly-after-the-9-11-attacks-republicans-and-democrats-were-united/) [Pete Hoekstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hoekstra/) > [Unless there is meaningful change in Syria and an end to the crackdown, President Assad and those around him will find themselves isolated internationally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hague/unless-there-is-meaningful-change-in-syria-and-an-end-to-the/) [William Hague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hague/) > [The ultimate goal is to change Syria's behaviour on a variety of issues - on its interference in Lebanese internal affairs, on its support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/the-ultimate-goal-is-to-change-syria-s-behaviour-on-a-variety-of/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [We must abandon the failed policy of nation-building and regime change that Hillary Clinton pushed in Iraq, in Libya, in Egypt and in Syria.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-must-abandon-the-failed-policy-of-nation-building-and-regime/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“The options are really only two: 1.) wait and hope that over a hundred years or so America becomes a Muslim state; or 2.)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-price/the-options-are-really-only-two-1-wait-and-hope-that-over-a-hundred/) [John Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-price/) > [ \[John\] Bolton was an advocate for regime change in Libya, so was Hillary Clinton actually. And Donald Trump said it was a mistake. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/john-bolton-was-an-advocate-for-regime-change-in-libya-so-was-hillary/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [Out of regime change you get chaos. From the chaos you have seen repeatedly the rise of radical Islam. So we get this profession…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/out-of-regime-change-you-get-chaos-from-the-chaos-you-have-seen/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We had people coming to our Foreign Relations Committee and saying, "Oh, we need to arm the allies of Al Qaida." They are still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-had-people-coming-to-our-foreign-relations-committee-and-saying-oh/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [ I don't know about \[Rex\] Tillerson, but I do know that John Bolton doesn't get it. He still believes in regime change. He's still… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-don-t-know-about-rex-tillerson-but-i-do-know-that-john-bolton-doesn/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I think the problem with John Bolton is he disagrees with President Trump's foreign policy. He would be closer to John McCain's foreign policy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-the-problem-with-john-bolton-is-he-disagrees-with-president/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) ## More by Rand Paul > [I have a question, a question for the president: Do you hate all rich people, or just rich people who don't contribute to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-have-a-question-a-question-for-the-president-do-you-hate-all-rich/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I can tell you who's planning terroris attacks. The leaders of ISIL. And I can tell you where they're at. They're in Raqqa, Syria.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-tell-you-who-s-planning-terroris-attacks-the-leaders-of-isil/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [There comes a time, in the history of Nations when fear and forgetfulness cause a nation to hesitate, to waver and perhaps even to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/there-comes-a-time-in-the-history-of-nations-when-fear-and/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [As long as I sit at Henry Clay's desk, I will remember his lifelong desire to forge agreement, but I will also keep close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-long-as-i-sit-at-henry-clay-s-desk-i-will-remember-his-lifelong/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I believe people ought to be treated fairly under the law. I see no reason why if the marriage contract conveys certain things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-believe-people-ought-to-be-treated-fairly-under-the-law-i-see-no/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I think that, most importantly, when I see issues of war, I see them in a personal vein, and I am reluctant to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-that-most-importantly-when-i-see-issues-of-war-i-see-them-in/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I would have handled it differently than the mayor of Baltimore, that's for sure. I think it's a mistake to say, hey, guys, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-would-have-handled-it-differently-than-the-mayor-of-baltimore-that/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We have to think before we act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-have-to-think-before-we-act/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I would introduce and support legislation to send Roe v. Wade back to the states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-would-introduce-and-support-legislation-to-send-roe-v-wade-back-to/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [President Obama, I think, wanted what was best for the country, but I think it didn't work well. I think we have the death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/president-obama-i-think-wanted-what-was-best-for-the-country-but-i/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I think it's a mistake to downgrade and say surveillance is no big deal. It is a huge deal that we are collecting millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-downgrade-and-say-surveillance-is-no-big/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We need a revival in the country,” Paul said. “We need another Great Awakening with tent revivals of thousands of people saying, 'reform or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-need-a-revival-in-the-country-paul-said-we-need-another-great/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We do not project power from bankruptcy court. We're borrowing a million dollars a minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-do-not-project-power-from-bankruptcy-court-we-re-borrowing-a/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I can use most of the tools that every American teenager can master. Maybe not all of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-use-most-of-the-tools-that-every-american-teenager-can-master/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) [Explore all 449 Rand Paul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) ## More Allies quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [If the women in the factories stopped work for twenty minutes, the Allies would lose the war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joffre/if-the-women-in-the-factories-stopped-work-for-twenty-minutes-the/) [Joseph Joffre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joffre/) > [As far as Japan is concerned, I want to help all of our allies, but we are losing billions and billions of dollars. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/as-far-as-japan-is-concerned-i-want-to-help-all-of-our-allies-but-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Our security depends on having good relationships with our allies. Donald Trump mainly shows contempt for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wolfowitz/our-security-depends-on-having-good-relationships-with-our-allies/) [Paul Wolfowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wolfowitz/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What would your life be like if your body were your friend and ally?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-northrup/what-would-your-life-be-like-if-your-body-were-your-friend-and-ally/) [Christiane Northrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-northrup/) > [“Bacteria and viruses were the most effective allies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-hughes-galeano/bacteria-and-viruses-were-the-most-effective-allies/) [Eduardo Hughes Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-hughes-galeano/) > [When black women are down with you and in your corner, you have an ally that will move Heaven and Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/when-black-women-are-down-with-you-and-in-your-corner-you-have-an/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [There is an irreplaceable ally. It's called the United States of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/there-is-an-irreplaceable-ally-it-s-called-the-united-states-of/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [It would have been easier to fight alone with inadequate forces than to have to accept...responsibility for our ally's lack of fighting qualities and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-kesselring/it-would-have-been-easier-to-fight-alone-with-inadequate-forces-than/) [Albert Kesselring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-kesselring/) > [It isn't until you begin to fight in your own cause that you become really committed to winning and become a genuine ally of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-morgan/it-isn-t-until-you-begin-to-fight-in-your-own-cause-that-you-become/) [Robin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-morgan/) > [ Again, I hear almost everyday from atheists who write off religion as primitive, premodern nonsense. 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