--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Arabs are victims. You have Shia…" description: "\"The Arabs are victims. You have Shia Arabs, under Arabization under Saddam Hussein, who were forcibly moved up there... You have Kurds who were displac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/raymond-t-odierno-71531_arabs_the-arabs-are-victims-you-have-shia-arab_2711364.jpg" --- # The Arabs are victims. You have Shia Arabs, under… ![“The Arabs are victims. You have Shia Arabs, under Arabization under Saddam Hussein, who were forcibly moved up there... You have Kurds who were displaced by these Arabs that were moved up there by Saddam Hussein. Kurds have been displaced from Kirkuk for hundreds of years.” quote by Raymond T. Odierno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/raymond-t-odierno-71531_arabs_the-arabs-are-victims-you-have-shia-arab_2711364.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/raymond-t-odierno-71531_arabs_the-arabs-are-victims-you-have-shia-arab_2711364.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/raymond-t-odierno-71531_arabs_the-arabs-are-victims-you-have-shia-arab_2711364.jpg) > “The Arabs are victims. You have Shia Arabs, under Arabization under Saddam Hussein, who were forcibly moved up there... You have Kurds who were displaced by these Arabs that were moved up there by Saddam Hussein. Kurds have been displaced from Kirkuk for hundreds of years.” [Raymond T. Odierno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-t-odierno/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Complex ethnic tensions in Iraq stem from forced relocations and historic grievances, creating victim‑perpetrator narratives. **In simple terms:** Arabs and Kurds suffer from past policies. Key Takeaway Recognize layered histories to inform policy. Themes conflict ethnicity history politics victimhood Mood somber reflective Type political analytical When to use this quote - peace negotiations - humanitarian aid - reconciliation programs Key Concepts forced migration national identity colonial legacy Questions to Reflect On - How do historical policies shape current identities? - What steps can reduce inter‑ethnic mistrust? A Different Perspective Oversimplifying groups ignores individual agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arabs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arabs/) [Arabs Victims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arabs-victims-2810789/) [Displaced Arabs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/displaced-arabs-2810790/) [Displaced Kirkuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/displaced-kirkuk-2810792/) [Hussein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hussein/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Kurds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kurds/) [Moved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moved/) [Saddam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saddam/) [Shia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shia/) [Shia Arabs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shia-arabs-2810791/) [Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [This current government in Iraq has never fulfilled the commitments it made to form a unity government with the Kurds, the Sunnis and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-hagel/this-current-government-in-iraq-has-never-fulfilled-the-commitments/) [Chuck Hagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-hagel/) > [We are engaging in the diplomatic efforts that are required within Iraq among the Shia, the Sunni and the Kurd, among friends, like Egypt,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-are-engaging-in-the-diplomatic-efforts-that-are-required-within/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [There is a difference between Iraq, where you have Sunni, Shia, and Kurds put together after the First World War by the Western powers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/there-is-a-difference-between-iraq-where-you-have-sunni-shia-and/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [It is important to understand that there are two separate battles taking place in Iraq: there is the political rift between the Sunnis, Shia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-important-to-understand-that-there-are-two-separate-battles/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just as certain Cold War binaries were collapsing, new binaries of Sunni versus Shia or Arab versus Kurd were being created by the new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-colla/just-as-certain-cold-war-binaries-were-collapsing-new-binaries-of/) [Elliott Colla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-colla/) > [What we would be committed to would be a representative government where all the Iraqi people decide who should lead their nation, and lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/what-we-would-be-committed-to-would-be-a-representative-government/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [At the end of the day...if your army won't fight, it's because they don't trust their incompetent, corrupt generals, they don't trust each other.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mccaffrey/at-the-end-of-the-day-if-your-army-won-t-fight-it-s-because-they-don/) [Barry McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mccaffrey/) > [Turkey is saying that it wants to preserve Sunni dominance in Mosul. Obviously, there, the Kurds, the Shia, the Iraqi government have their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-cockburn/turkey-is-saying-that-it-wants-to-preserve-sunni-dominance-in-mosul/) [Patrick Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-cockburn/) > [There is no military solution to the war in Iraq. Our troops can help suppress the violence, but they cannot solve its root causes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/there-is-no-military-solution-to-the-war-in-iraq-our-troops-can-help/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [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/) > [To move any regime you need to have co-operation and co-ordination between Kurds, Shia Arabs, Sunni Arabs, the people and the army. Until we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/to-move-any-regime-you-need-to-have-co-operation-and-co-ordination/) [Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/) > [I do believe that the Kurds are in a difficult situation. They do have some American support. How consistent that will be is unclear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-landis/i-do-believe-that-the-kurds-are-in-a-difficult-situation-they-do-have/) [Joshua Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-landis/) > [Critics of the war plans (including myself) have pointed to the disastrous political results that must be expected: Iraq would break into three parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uri-avnery/critics-of-the-war-plans-including-myself-have-pointed-to-the/) [Uri Avnery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uri-avnery/) > [ It cannot be an American fight. And I think what the president \[Barack Obama\] has consistently said - which I agree with - is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-cannot-be-an-american-fight-and-i-think-what-the-president-barack/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The country of Iraq is somewhat of an artificial creation going back to colonial days. And so you have the Kurds and then the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clapper/the-country-of-iraq-is-somewhat-of-an-artificial-creation-going-back/) [James Clapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clapper/) ## More by Raymond T. Odierno > [All along, American policy has been, 'We don't establish a Kurdistan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-t-odierno/all-along-american-policy-has-been-we-don-t-establish-a-kurdistan/) [Raymond T. Odierno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-t-odierno/) > [Our profession is built on the bedrock of trust - the trust that must inherently exist among Soldiers, and between Soldiers and their leaders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-t-odierno/our-profession-is-built-on-the-bedrock-of-trust-the-trust-that-must/) [Raymond T. Odierno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-t-odierno/) > [You've got to hae ground forces that are capable of going after them and rooting them out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-t-odierno/you-ve-got-to-hae-ground-forces-that-are-capable-of-going-after-them/) [Raymond T. Odierno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-t-odierno/) [Explore all 4 Raymond T. Odierno quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-t-odierno/) ## More Arabs quotes > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [You can't ignore reality. You won't wake up one morning and find that the Arabs of Umm al-Faham have become part of Palestine and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-ayalon/you-can-t-ignore-reality-you-won-t-wake-up-one-morning-and-find-that/) [Ami Ayalon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-ayalon/) > [Why should the Arabs make peace? If I was an Arab leader I would never make terms with Israel. That is natural: we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ben-gurion/why-should-the-arabs-make-peace-if-i-was-an-arab-leader-i-would-never/) [David Ben-Gurion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ben-gurion/) > [For many years the stakes were clear. There were the Arabs attacking us and us defending ourselves, so basically there were no real problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/for-many-years-the-stakes-were-clear-there-were-the-arabs-attacking/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [The Palestinian Arabs will have their autonomy, we will have our security. We shall live together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-begin/the-palestinian-arabs-will-have-their-autonomy-we-will-have-our/) [Menachem Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-begin/) > [The reason we're getting bombed is 'cause we were on one side, and we're gonna remain on that side. We can't waver because these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmie-walker/the-reason-we-re-getting-bombed-is-cause-we-were-on-one-side-and-we/) [Jimmie Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmie-walker/) > [“For the Arabs, and the above all for the 1.2 million Arabs of Palestine, the partitioning of the land in which they had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-collins/for-the-arabs-and-the-above-all-for-the-1-2-million-arabs-of/) [Larry Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-collins/) > [When American administration will find that their interest is to follow up with the international conference and to find peace in this area, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/when-american-administration-will-find-that-their-interest-is-to/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [I should much rather see a reasonable agreement with Arabs based upon living together than the creation of a Jewish state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/i-should-much-rather-see-a-reasonable-agreement-with-arabs-based-upon/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“I have always found it difficult not to be moved by Jerusalem, even when I hated it—and God knows I have hated it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-abulhawa/i-have-always-found-it-difficult-not-to-be-moved-by-jerusalem-even/) [Susan Abulhawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-abulhawa/) > [Muslim brothers be damned; they're our greatest enemies. You know yourself that I'm a Muslim, even a fanatical Muslim. But that does nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-reza-pahlavi/muslim-brothers-be-damned-they-re-our-greatest-enemies-you-know/) [Mohammed Reza Pahlavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-reza-pahlavi/) > [We are used to thinking of the Arabs as primitive men of the desert, as a donkey-like nation that neither sees nor understands what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahad-ha-am/we-are-used-to-thinking-of-the-arabs-as-primitive-men-of-the-desert/) [Ahad Ha'am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahad-ha-am/) > [The separation of the Arabs from the rest of mankind has accustomed them to confound the ideas of stranger and enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-separation-of-the-arabs-from-the-rest-of-mankind-has-accustomed/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [My friend and I founded the New York Arab-American Comedy Festival to counter the negative images of Arabs in media. And we always made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maysoon-zayid/my-friend-and-i-founded-the-new-york-arab-american-comedy-festival-to/) [Maysoon Zayid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maysoon-zayid/) > [Any solution for the Iraqi problem cannot be reached without Arabs and Arab participation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amr-moussa/any-solution-for-the-iraqi-problem-cannot-be-reached-without-arabs/) [Amr Moussa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amr-moussa/) [Browse all 213 Arabs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arabs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Arabs are victims. You have Shia Arabs, under Arabization under Saddam Hussein, who were forcibly moved up there... You have Kurds who were displaced by these Arabs that were moved up there by Saddam Hussein. Kurds have been displaced from Kirkuk for hundreds of years.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raymond T. 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