--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once you start bombing in Syria, when you…" description: "\"Once you start bombing in Syria, when you start looking for targets, there will be a lot.\" — Richard Engel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f4/richard-engel-3133_bombing_once-you-start-bombing-in-syria-when-you_1582182.jpg" --- # Once you start bombing in Syria, when you start looking… ![“Once you start bombing in Syria, when you start looking for targets, there will be a lot.” quote by Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f4/richard-engel-3133_bombing_once-you-start-bombing-in-syria-when-you_1582182.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f4/richard-engel-3133_bombing_once-you-start-bombing-in-syria-when-you_1582182.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f4/richard-engel-3133_bombing_once-you-start-bombing-in-syria-when-you_1582182.jpg) > “Once you start bombing in Syria, when you start looking for targets, there will be a lot.” [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 quote warns that once bombing begins, targets become abundant, implying escalation and moral complexity **In simple terms:** Bombing creates many targets, leading to endless conflict Key Takeaway Recognize the cycle of escalation Themes war ethics policy Mood somber reflective Type political analytical When to use this quote - Military planning - Humanitarian aid - Diplomatic negotiations Key Concepts Escalation Moral hazard Target selection Questions to Reflect On - How does initial force affect future decisions? - Can restraint be maintained after escalation? A Different Perspective The quote may oversimplify the strategic calculus of targeting ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bombing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bombing/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Syria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syria/) ## Related quotes > [Bombing Syria will achieve nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-boyle/bombing-syria-will-achieve-nothing/) [Frankie Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-boyle/) > [The United States is the Godfather when it establishes edicts. Others had better live up to them, or else. 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We have good systems and departments. If targets are not reached, a yellow light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wang-jianlin/in-setting-goals-and-executing-a-strategy-wanda-is-sophisticated-we/) [Wang Jianlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wang-jianlin/) > [“You can not have empty or neutral mind, as long as you work the mind will contain dreams, if you stop working it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/you-can-not-have-empty-or-neutral-mind-as-long-as-you-work-the-mind/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) ## 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. 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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. 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And I used to say that the way to fight the guerrilla was with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-hilsman/i-had-been-a-guerrilla-leader-in-world-war-ii-and-i-used-to-say-that/) [Roger Hilsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-hilsman/) > [The question is the morning after. What sort of Iraq do we wake up to after the bombing? What happens in the region? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-question-is-the-morning-after-what-sort-of-iraq-do-we-wake-up-to/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Clinton's bombing campaign has caused all of these problems to explode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/clinton-s-bombing-campaign-has-caused-all-of-these-problems-to-explode/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [“Be back presently, Florence!” he called to his wife, and stumped out the front door into the noise and panic of a London bombing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-brazytis/be-back-presently-florence-he-called-to-his-wife-and-stumped-out-the/) [Sarah Brazytis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-brazytis/) > [If liberals had been in charge of the Arizona memorial, it would probably have featured an exhaustive exhibit about the internment of Japanese Americans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-charen/if-liberals-had-been-in-charge-of-the-arizona-memorial-it-would/) [Mona Charen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-charen/) > [WASHINGTON - Ever since President Obama ordered American warplanes to begin bombing terrorist targets in Iraq and Syria last year, members of Congress have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-baker/washington-ever-since-president-obama-ordered-american-warplanes-to/) [Peter Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-baker/) > [If you're against globalisation, it doesn't achieve much by sort of bombing the head offices of Shell or Nestle. 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