--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have the manual, and the sad thing is…" description: "\"I have the manual, and the sad thing is that many of the techniques are exactly the same ones with a few enhancements by the US since World War II. So ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/ray-mcgovern-27150_allies_i-have-the-manual-and-the-sad-thing-is-t_182771.jpg" --- # I have the manual, and the sad thing is that many of the… ![“I have the manual, and the sad thing is that many of the techniques are exactly the same ones with a few enhancements by the US since World War II. So the role of our European allies and others has just really disappointed me greatly.” quote by Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/ray-mcgovern-27150_allies_i-have-the-manual-and-the-sad-thing-is-t_182771.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/ray-mcgovern-27150_allies_i-have-the-manual-and-the-sad-thing-is-t_182771.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/ray-mcgovern-27150_allies_i-have-the-manual-and-the-sad-thing-is-t_182771.jpg) > “I have the manual, and the sad thing is that many of the techniques are exactly the same ones with a few enhancements by the US since World War II. So the role of our European allies and others has just really disappointed me greatly.” [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) ## 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 The quote expresses disappointment that European allies repeat outdated tactics, merely adding minor US enhancements since WWII, suggesting stagnation in strategic innovation. **In simple terms:** Allies repeat old methods with small US tweaks, causing frustration. Key Takeaway Seek fresh, collaborative strategies beyond legacy approaches. Themes military politics innovation disappointment allies Mood frustrated critical reflective Type analytical political When to use this quote - defense planning - policy reform - international cooperation - military training - technology development Key Concepts strategic stagnation historical continuity us‑european relations Questions to Reflect On - How can allies break from past patterns? - What incentives drive genuine innovation? A Different Perspective Limited by entrenched doctrines and political inertia. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allies/) [Disappointed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointed/) [Sad things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sad-things/) [Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technique/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War of the worlds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-of-the-worlds/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war/) [World war ii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war-ii/) ## Related quotes > [After many, many years of decline in defense spending across Europe and Canada, in 2016, we saw the first significant increase. We still have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/after-many-many-years-of-decline-in-defense-spending-across-europe/) [Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/) > [I then spoke to chancellor (Angela) Merkel of Germany and we agreed that the United States and our European allies will work closely together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-then-spoke-to-chancellor-angela-merkel-of-germany-and-we-agreed/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We should be working with our European allies, not turning them into opponents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/we-should-be-working-with-our-european-allies-not-turning-them-into/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [President Trump is hardly the first U.S. president to call on the European allies to do more - in one form or another, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-daalder/president-trump-is-hardly-the-first-u-s-president-to-call-on-the/) [Ivo Daalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-daalder/) > [What Secretary Ash Carter is looking at is the constant pressure that Russia's putting on our European allies. The way that Russia is trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/what-secretary-ash-carter-is-looking-at-is-the-constant-pressure-that/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [If Russia shuts off central Asia and the Caspian Sea from Europe, the European allies of the United States will be totally dependent on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-russia-shuts-off-central-asia-and-the-caspian-sea-from-europe-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe that we should take every opportunity to challenge the assumption that our European allies are doing us a favor whenever they provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bowles/i-believe-that-we-should-take-every-opportunity-to-challenge-the/) [Chester Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bowles/) > [“Gone with the Wind, a self-help manual that dealt with the subject of how best to cope with Yankees when they venture south.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-l-atkins/gone-with-the-wind-a-self-help-manual-that-dealt-with-the-subject-of/) [Raymond L. Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-l-atkins/) > [I'm self-taught and emailed photographers I knew if I had questions I couldn't figure out from the manual or online.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanneli-mustaparta/i-m-self-taught-and-emailed-photographers-i-knew-if-i-had-questions-i/) [Hanneli Mustaparta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanneli-mustaparta/) > [Every technology really needs to be shipped with a special manual - not how to use it but why, when and for what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/every-technology-really-needs-to-be-shipped-with-a-special-manual-not/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [Writing a manual forces you to place your thoughts and ideas down on paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-vanderveer/writing-a-manual-forces-you-to-place-your-thoughts-and-ideas-down-on/) Tara VanDerveer > [I spend a fair amount of time on my computer, but I don't hack into anything. I have to open the manual and follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-ritter/i-spend-a-fair-amount-of-time-on-my-computer-but-i-don-t-hack-into/) [Jason Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-ritter/) > [“Just imagine, how much easier our lives would be if we were born with a ‘user guide or owner’s manual’ which could tell us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-m-szabo/just-imagine-how-much-easier-our-lives-would-be-if-we-were-born-with/) Erika M. Szabo > [A screenplay is really an instruction manual, and it can be interpreted in any number of ways. The casting, the choice of location, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/a-screenplay-is-really-an-instruction-manual-and-it-can-be/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [I was a manual labourer. I figured out really early on that the value of my life could be determined by my hourly rate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-curtis/i-was-a-manual-labourer-i-figured-out-really-early-on-that-the-value/) [Cliff Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-curtis/) ## More by Ray McGovern > [You do what you know is good, because it's good, and then you have a certain peace of mind, saying, you've been an activist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/you-do-what-you-know-is-good-because-it-s-good-and-then-you-have-a/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [Now, how do you explain Obama's claim, that he can kill American citizens without due process? Well, he has his attorney general get up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/now-how-do-you-explain-obama-s-claim-that-he-can-kill-american/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [You know, it's hard to say this, but I suspect that Obama is afraid either of blackmail potential or even worse. And he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/you-know-it-s-hard-to-say-this-but-i-suspect-that-obama-is-afraid/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [I knew about some experience on the operational part of the CIA with Latin American services and so forth having to do with torture.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/i-knew-about-some-experience-on-the-operational-part-of-the-cia-with/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [I would have never thought that I would hear myself saying that the president of the United States is afraid of the CIA. 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We can't be deterred from doing things, because we might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/you-know-we-may-just-be-planting-seeds-for-future-generations-but/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [Now the big danger is to avoid doing anything, unless you have a surety, unless you have an assurance that you'll be successful. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/now-the-big-danger-is-to-avoid-doing-anything-unless-you-have-a/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [Our bill of rights has been shredded. The fourth amendment specifically prohibits the kind of activities the NSA is involved in domestically. The fifth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/our-bill-of-rights-has-been-shredded-the-fourth-amendment/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [I would answer with the words of the Stasi alumnus Wolfgang Schmidt, who was asked that question: "What about these Americans who say, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/i-would-answer-with-the-words-of-the-stasi-alumnus-wolfgang-schmidt/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [We all have a responsibility, and as Rabbi Heschel, one of my prophets, has put it: "Those who condone, or are silent, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/we-all-have-a-responsibility-and-as-rabbi-heschel-one-of-my-prophets/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [I would say that not many German people are still alive, who experienced what happened during the third reich. 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Because all this has been approved by our political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/i-think-the-question-really-is-whether-our-political-leaders-have/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) [Explore all 21 Ray McGovern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) ## 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 > [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 > [As far as Japan is concerned, I want to help all of our allies, but we are losing billions and billions of dollars. 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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. 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