--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no getting around the reality…" description: "\"There is no getting around the reality that the second Iraq war was a war of choice; had it been carried out differently, it still would have been an e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c6/richard-n-haass-3803_bad_there-is-no-getting-around-the-reality-t_3172795.jpg" --- # There is no getting around the reality that the second… ![“There is no getting around the reality that the second Iraq war was a war of choice; had it been carried out differently, it still would have been an expensive choice and almost certainly a bad one.” quote by Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c6/richard-n-haass-3803_bad_there-is-no-getting-around-the-reality-t_3172795.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c6/richard-n-haass-3803_bad_there-is-no-getting-around-the-reality-t_3172795.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c6/richard-n-haass-3803_bad_there-is-no-getting-around-the-reality-t_3172795.jpg) > “There is no getting around the reality that the second Iraq war was a war of choice; had it been carried out differently, it still would have been an expensive choice and almost certainly a bad one.” [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Iraq war was a deliberate choice; even with different execution, it remained costly and likely detrimental. **In simple terms:** War choices carry inevitable high costs. Key Takeaway Weigh long‑term consequences before committing to conflict. Themes war policy decision‑making Mood critical serious Type political analytical When to use this quote - government deliberations - military planning - public debate Key Concepts political science ethics strategic analysis Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives were truly viable? - How do we assess the true cost of war? A Different Perspective Alternative strategies may still entail severe fallout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Expensive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expensive/) [Expensive Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expensive-choice-5782205/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Iraq war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq-war/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Second Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-iraq-5782204/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-choice-1635995/) ## Related quotes > [Iraq was a war of choice, not necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/iraq-was-a-war-of-choice-not-necessity/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [Iraq was a war of choice, like Vietnam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-hagel/iraq-was-a-war-of-choice-like-vietnam/) [Chuck Hagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-hagel/) > [The decision to attack Iraq in March 2003 was discretionary; it was a war of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/the-decision-to-attack-iraq-in-march-2003-was-discretionary-it-was-a/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Vietnam was not a war of choice the United States had to fight. It was clearly not central.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/vietnam-was-not-a-war-of-choice-the-united-states-had-to-fight-it-was/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [“Nevertheless, what saved Iran from a comprehensive defeat was not the ferocity of its military resistance but rather the limited objectives of the Iraqi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/efraim-karsh/nevertheless-what-saved-iran-from-a-comprehensive-defeat-was-not-the/) [Efraim Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/efraim-karsh/) > [As many people have chronicled, the decision to fight in Vietnam was a years-long accretion of step-by-step choices, each of which could be rationalized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fallows/as-many-people-have-chronicled-the-decision-to-fight-in-vietnam-was-a/) [James Fallows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fallows/) > [The conduct of President Bush's war of choice has been plagued with incompetent civilian leadership decisions that have cost many lives and rendered the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olver/the-conduct-of-president-bush-s-war-of-choice-has-been-plagued-with/) [John Olver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olver/) > [This war of choice in Iraq is undermining the very fabric of American society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-grijalva/this-war-of-choice-in-iraq-is-undermining-the-very-fabric-of-american/) [Raul Grijalva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-grijalva/) > [War should be not a war of choice; it should be a war of necessity. And it should be a last resort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/war-should-be-not-a-war-of-choice-it-should-be-a-war-of-necessity-and/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [In 2003, Congress should have resisted the rush to a war of choice with Iraq. I will do everything in my power to prevent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-garamendi/in-2003-congress-should-have-resisted-the-rush-to-a-war-of-choice/) [John Garamendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-garamendi/) > [The war of choice in Iraq could never have gained the congressional support it got without the psychological linkage between the shock of 9/11…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-war-of-choice-in-iraq-could-never-have-gained-the-congressional/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [While war is never anyone first choice, sometimes it is a necessary choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gresham-barrett/while-war-is-never-anyone-first-choice-sometimes-it-is-a-necessary/) [Gresham Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gresham-barrett/) > [Blunders are an inescapable feature of war, because choice in military affairs lies generally between the bad and the worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-massie/blunders-are-an-inescapable-feature-of-war-because-choice-in-military/) [Allan Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-massie/) > [I did not believe in the Iraq war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/i-did-not-believe-in-the-iraq-war/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [The first Iraq War was one of necessity because vital U.S. interests were at stake, and we reached the point where no other national-security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/the-first-iraq-war-was-one-of-necessity-because-vital-u-s-interests/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) ## More by Richard N. Haass > [Terrorists and terrorism cannot be eliminated any more than we can rid the world of disease. There will always be those who will resort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/terrorists-and-terrorism-cannot-be-eliminated-any-more-than-we-can/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [There is no way to know for certain what accounts for North Korean decisionmaking, given how closed a country it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/there-is-no-way-to-know-for-certain-what-accounts-for-north-korean/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Security is the absolute precondition for sustainable recovery from conflict; without it, people cannot rebuild their country or return to school or work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/security-is-the-absolute-precondition-for-sustainable-recovery-from/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [When great powers fade, as they inevitably must, it's normally for one of two reasons. Some powers exhaust themselves through overreach abroad, underinvestment at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/when-great-powers-fade-as-they-inevitably-must-it-s-normally-for-one/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Americans never would alter the way entitlement programs are funded or education administered without serious study and widespread debate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/americans-never-would-alter-the-way-entitlement-programs-are-funded/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Sovereignty must be redefined if states are to cope with globalisation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/sovereignty-must-be-redefined-if-states-are-to-cope-with-globalisation/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [America's armed forces are an essential background to much of what the U.S. accomplishes internationally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/america-s-armed-forces-are-an-essential-background-to-much-of-what/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [No amount of sanctioning will persuade North Korea to give up nuclear weapons, nor will China step up and solve the problem for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/no-amount-of-sanctioning-will-persuade-north-korea-to-give-up-nuclear/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Weapons of mass destruction - nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons - are just that, and no cause can excuse their use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/weapons-of-mass-destruction-nuclear-biological-and-chemical-weapons/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [No one pursuing reasonable goals and who is prepared to compromise can argue that terrorism is his or his group's only option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/no-one-pursuing-reasonable-goals-and-who-is-prepared-to-compromise/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [The rise of populism is in part a response to stagnating incomes and job loss, owing mostly to new technologies but widely attributed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/the-rise-of-populism-is-in-part-a-response-to-stagnating-incomes-and/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [We all have some basic obligation to one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/we-all-have-some-basic-obligation-to-one-another/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [What countries must do to join the World Trade Organization is precisely what they must do to become productive and democratic: accept the rule…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/what-countries-must-do-to-join-the-world-trade-organization-is/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [I believe in diplomacy; I don't believe in talking to... that talking to Iran somehow constitutes a concession or a favour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/i-believe-in-diplomacy-i-don-t-believe-in-talking-to-that-talking-to/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [I've worked for four presidents, and I've concluded that almost nothing is inevitable. History is to a significant extent the result of the interaction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/i-ve-worked-for-four-presidents-and-i-ve-concluded-that-almost/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) [Explore all 121 Richard N. 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It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. 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