Choices Quote by Richard N. Haass
“I think what Mr. Trump has made clear is that he would not undertake optional wars, what I have called wars of choice, a la, say Iraq in 2003 or Libya, for the purposes of transforming another country. It's not clear whether Hillary Clinton, if she were to have the opportunity, would do such a thing again or whether she would have taken a - the lesson from both Iraq and Libya that we ought not to be undertaking those kinds of wars of choice.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Foreign Policy, 2016
He argues that the U.S. should avoid initiating wars for its own purposes, citing Iraq and Libya as examples of unnecessary interventions.
In simple terms: Avoid starting wars just to change other countries.
Key Takeaway
Question war motives before intervening.
Themes
foreign policy
war
ethics
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- government decision‑making
- military planning
- public debate
- academic analysis
Key Concepts
interventionism
realism
moral hazard
Questions to Reflect On
- What criteria should guide military action?
- How do we balance national interest with moral responsibility?
A Different Perspective
Such wars may be justified by perceived threats or humanitarian goals.
