--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How can you claim infallibility and claim…" description: "\"How can you claim infallibility and claim that in these 114 [drone] strikes there was just one mistake -- one person killed that was a civilian -- and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/richard-engel-3133_can-do_how-can-you-claim-infallibility-and-clai_2905561.jpg" --- # How can you claim infallibility and claim that in these… ![“How can you claim infallibility and claim that in these 114 [drone] strikes there was just one mistake -- one person killed that was a civilian -- and at the same time say, 'Well, we don't really know how many people were killed or who they were, but we know they weren't civilians'? I don't know…” quote by Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/richard-engel-3133_can-do_how-can-you-claim-infallibility-and-clai_2905561.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/richard-engel-3133_can-do_how-can-you-claim-infallibility-and-clai_2905561.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/richard-engel-3133_can-do_how-can-you-claim-infallibility-and-clai_2905561.jpg) > “How can you claim infallibility and claim that in these 114 \[drone\] strikes there was just one mistake -- one person killed that was a civilian -- and at the same time say, 'Well, we don't really know how many people were killed or who they were, but we know they weren't civilians'? I don't know how you can do that.” [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker questions contradictory statements about civilian casualties in drone strikes, highlighting logical inconsistency. **In simple terms:** Contradictory claims about civilian deaths. Key Takeaway Demand consistent evidence and accountability. Themes ethics military accountability Mood critical skeptical Type political analytical When to use this quote - policy debate - media analysis - human rights advocacy Key Concepts logic cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - How can officials reconcile conflicting statements? - What mechanisms ensure accurate reporting? A Different Perspective Such claims can undermine credibility and public trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Civilians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilians/) [Claim Infallibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claim-infallibility-1932353/) [Claims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claims/) [Drone Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drone-strikes-852144/) [Drones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drones/) [Infallibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infallibility/) [Infallibility Claim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infallibility-claim-4156467/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Just one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-one/) [Killed Civilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killed-civilian-4156468/) [Know how](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-how/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [One mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-mistake/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [Science makes no claim to infallibility; it leaves that claim to be made by theologians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/science-makes-no-claim-to-infallibility-it-leaves-that-claim-to-be/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [Bin Laden was 200 miles away from the area where all of these drone strikes were taking out his key leaders in al-Qaida. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/bin-laden-was-200-miles-away-from-the-area-where-all-of-these-drone-2/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [In Yemen, the United States conducted more drone strikes in 2016 than any year except 2012, the peak of the campaign in the country,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/in-yemen-the-united-states-conducted-more-drone-strikes-in-2016-than/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The drones are really interesting - how have the troops withdrawn from Afghanistan? Because we've upped the drone strikes and most of the country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/the-drones-are-really-interesting-how-have-the-troops-withdrawn-from/) [Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/) > [I believe we should use any and all means necessary to take out people who pose a threat to us and our friends around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-believe-we-should-use-any-and-all-means-necessary-to-take-out-2/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Bin Laden was 200 miles away from the area where all of these drone strikes were taking out his key leaders, he was able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/bin-laden-was-200-miles-away-from-the-area-where-all-of-these-drone/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [There are a lot of things that I really question - the legality of the drone strikes, these NSA revelations. Jimmy Carter came out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/there-are-a-lot-of-things-that-i-really-question-the-legality-of-the/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [Our enemies are real. But so are the moral questions and long-term political implications of drone strikes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feirstein/our-enemies-are-real-but-so-are-the-moral-questions-and-long-term/) [Bruce Feirstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feirstein/) > [Drone strikes, Albert Camus would argue, are not just meant to kill. They are programmed to terrorize. In this regard, whether the missile strikes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-st-clair/drone-strikes-albert-camus-would-argue-are-not-just-meant-to-kill/) [Jeffrey St. Clair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-st-clair/) > [ There were between 46 and 52 drone strikes under the \[George W.\] Bush administration. And now there are over 400 - that's not counting… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/medea-benjamin/there-were-between-46-and-52-drone-strikes-under-the-george-w-bush/) [Medea Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/medea-benjamin/) > [What scares me about drone strikes is how they are perceived around the world. The resentment created by American use of unmanned strikes... is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-a-mcchrystal/what-scares-me-about-drone-strikes-is-how-they-are-perceived-around/) [Stanley A. 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U.S. drone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/the-president-and-other-government-officials-denounce-school-violence/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [You can't hate somebody for the rest of their lives over one mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-quik/you-can-t-hate-somebody-for-the-rest-of-their-lives-over-one-mistake/) [DJ Quik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-quik/) ## More by Richard Engel > [The Syrians are better suited to sort out their internal divisions than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/the-syrians-are-better-suited-to-sort-out-their-internal-divisions/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Osama Bin Laden is dead. Killed not by a massive troop deployment but by a commando raid carried out by a few dozen highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/osama-bin-laden-is-dead-killed-not-by-a-massive-troop-deployment-but/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Anyone who follows the Middle East and Islamic world in general can't deny it is often a very violent place, that a band of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/anyone-who-follows-the-middle-east-and-islamic-world-in-general-can-t/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [An Egyptian newspaper once publicly identified me as the C.I.A. station chief in Cairo. It seemed so stupid at the time. I was only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/an-egyptian-newspaper-once-publicly-identified-me-as-the-c-i-a/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [It's probably time to end the global war on terrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/it-s-probably-time-to-end-the-global-war-on-terrorism/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Israel is becoming a fortress. Fences along the borders with Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/israel-is-becoming-a-fortress-fences-along-the-borders-with-egypt/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Every country where the the United States maintains troops has a status of forces agreement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/every-country-where-the-the-united-states-maintains-troops-has-a/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [There are many Israelis who are not keen on Barack Obama - they did not want to see him elected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/there-are-many-israelis-who-are-not-keen-on-barack-obama-they-did-not/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [If you're in part of rebel-controlled Syria, and suddenly your house blows up or a building next to you blows up, it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/if-you-re-in-part-of-rebel-controlled-syria-and-suddenly-your-house/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Every child is taught if you try to please everyone, you end up upsetting everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/every-child-is-taught-if-you-try-to-please-everyone-you-end-up/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [There weren't many weapons in Egypt in the 1990s. Police controls on guns were very strict back then. That is no longer the case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/there-weren-t-many-weapons-in-egypt-in-the-1990s-police-controls-on/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Bin Laden is dead, and most of his friends are dead. But did it need to cost a trillion dollars and two land wars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/bin-laden-is-dead-and-most-of-his-friends-are-dead-but-did-it-need-to/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Many senior government officials, CIA, FBI, counter terrorism officials - when they look back at the decade, they effectively conclude that the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/many-senior-government-officials-cia-fbi-counter-terrorism-officials/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Many governments are quick to condemn Assad, but a dwindling number of them would celebrate a rebel victory in Damascus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/many-governments-are-quick-to-condemn-assad-but-a-dwindling-number-of/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Israel sees the world just beyond its borders collapsing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/israel-sees-the-world-just-beyond-its-borders-collapsing/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) [Explore all 138 Richard Engel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) ## More Can do quotes > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [I'm not an educated man. I only know what I'm told, and I'm not told that much; I have no frame of reference for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-m-not-an-educated-man-i-only-know-what-i-m-told-and-i-m-not-told/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) [Browse all 5,673 Can do quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How can you claim infallibility and claim that in these 114 [drone] strikes there was just one mistake -- one person killed that was a civilian -- and at the same time say, 'Well, we don't really know how many people were killed or who they were, but we know they weren't civilians'? 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