Avoid Quote by Richard Armitage
“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 if we could. But if we couldn't, the notion of removing Saddam Hussein from the scene seemed eminently sensible, given that you had, what, 16 or so U.N. Security Council resolutions basically saying the same thing.”
About This Quote
The speaker explains that while he and Secretary Powell preferred avoiding war, they considered military action against Saddam Hussein reasonable if diplomatic options failed.
In simple terms: They wanted peace but saw force as a backup.
Key Takeaway
We diplomatic first, consider force only as last resort.
Themes
politics
war
diplomacy
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
political
strategic
When to use this quote
- UN negotiations
- military planning
- policy debates
Key Concepts
international law
ethical decision‑making
strategic planning
Questions to Reflect On
- What alternatives could have been pursued?
- How do we balance moral concerns with security?
A Different Perspective
Risk of escalation and civilian harm.
![“I regret the fact that Saddam [Hussein] didn't have weapons of mass destruction that we thought. I don't regret removing him from power.” quote by George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/330/george-w-bush-64_destruction_i-regret-the-fact-that-saddam-hussein-di_1401158.jpg)
