--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not an apologist for Iran's actions…" description: "\"I'm not an apologist for Iran's actions. Iran certainly has supported activities of terrorism, and the Houthis don't have clean hands. The Houthis have..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d6/ro-khanna-6046_civil-war_i-m-not-an-apologist-for-iran-s-actions_3023018.jpg" --- # I'm not an apologist for Iran's actions. Iran certainly… ![“I'm not an apologist for Iran's actions. Iran certainly has supported activities of terrorism, and the Houthis don't have clean hands. The Houthis have engaged in crimes too. But the idea that that justifies American involvement in a civil war in Yemen doesn't make any sense strategically.” quote by Ro Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d6/ro-khanna-6046_civil-war_i-m-not-an-apologist-for-iran-s-actions_3023018.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d6/ro-khanna-6046_civil-war_i-m-not-an-apologist-for-iran-s-actions_3023018.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d6/ro-khanna-6046_civil-war_i-m-not-an-apologist-for-iran-s-actions_3023018.jpg) > “I'm not an apologist for Iran's actions. Iran certainly has supported activities of terrorism, and the Houthis don't have clean hands. The Houthis have engaged in crimes too. But the idea that that justifies American involvement in a civil war in Yemen doesn't make any sense strategically.” [Ro Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Supporting terrorism does not justify foreign military intervention; strategic rationale must be sound. **In simple terms:** Terrorism support isn’t a reason for war. Key Takeaway Demand clear strategic justification before intervening. Themes foreign policy ethics strategic analysis conflict Mood critical analytical Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy debates - military planning - public discourse - media analysis Key Concepts realpolitik humanitarianism Questions to Reflect On - Is military involvement ever justified in civil wars? - What alternatives exist to achieve stability? A Different Perspective Complex geopolitics may limit clear-cut solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actions Iran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actions-iran-4902648/) [Apologist Iran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologist-iran-4902646/) [Civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) [Clean hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clean-hands/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Iran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iran/) [Iran Actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iran-actions-408241/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism/) [Terrorism Houthis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism-houthis-4902645/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Yemen Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yemen-doesn-4902647/) ## Related quotes > [When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/when-we-criticize-in-iran-the-actions-of-the-government-the/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [Now that Iran's actions have been verified, it can begin to receive relief from certain nuclear sanctions and gain access to its own money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/now-that-iran-s-actions-have-been-verified-it-can-begin-to-receive/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We cannot go back in time and change the past, but we can repent. The Savior can wipe away our tears of regret and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-cannot-go-back-in-time-and-change-the-past-but-we-can-repent-the/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [“Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? She who has clean hands and a pure heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-coleman/who-may-ascend-the-hill-of-the-lord-who-may-stand-in-his-holy-place/) [Sarah Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-coleman/) > [They were still in the happier stage of love. They were full of brave illusions about each other, tremendous illusions, so that the communion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/they-were-still-in-the-happier-stage-of-love-they-were-full-of-brave/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [God works for man through man and seldom, if at all, in any other way. He asks for our voices to speak His truth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fort-newton/god-works-for-man-through-man-and-seldom-if-at-all-in-any-other-way/) [Joseph Fort Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fort-newton/) > [If any influential nation had the great spiritual strength to lay down its arms and appear with clean hands before the world, the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/if-any-influential-nation-had-the-great-spiritual-strength-to-lay/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [Suppose you found your brother in bed with your wife, and put a javelin through both of them. You would be justified, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/suppose-you-found-your-brother-in-bed-with-your-wife-and-put-a/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [Before pointing fingers make sure your hands are clean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/before-pointing-fingers-make-sure-your-hands-are-clean/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [There are many out there who plead and pray for help. There are those who are discouraged, those who are beset by poor health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/there-are-many-out-there-who-plead-and-pray-for-help-there-are-those/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [Here, you go to the supermarket and you have wipes to clean your hands before shopping. No, we don't have that in France, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berenice-bejo/here-you-go-to-the-supermarket-and-you-have-wipes-to-clean-your-hands/) [Berenice Bejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-bejo/) > [God is looking for clean hands and a pure heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-johnson/god-is-looking-for-clean-hands-and-a-pure-heart/) [Monica Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-johnson/) > [“There are the girls we love, the men we look up to, the tenderness, the friendships, the opportunities, the pleasures! But the fact remains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/there-are-the-girls-we-love-the-men-we-look-up-to-the-tenderness-the/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [“Let’s get it over and the door closed shut on it! Let’s close it like a book and go on reading! New chapter, new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/let-s-get-it-over-and-the-door-closed-shut-on-it-let-s-close-it-like/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“During all that time I didn't see Willie. I didn't see him again until he announced in the Democratic primary in 1930. But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/during-all-that-time-i-didn-t-see-willie-i-didn-t-see-him-again-until/) [Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/) ## More by Ro Khanna > [Gandhi reminded those who followed his faith that perhaps its most important aspect was its commitment to oneness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/gandhi-reminded-those-who-followed-his-faith-that-perhaps-its-most/) [Ro Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/) > [People want to have some assurance that their privacy, their data is going to be protected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/people-want-to-have-some-assurance-that-their-privacy-their-data-is/) [Ro Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/) > [Net neutrality is at the core of what we love about the Internet. Put simply, it allows any individual or business equal access to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/net-neutrality-is-at-the-core-of-what-we-love-about-the-internet-put/) [Ro Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/) > [We have tried to change regimes through a variety of means - over 80 times, by some estimates. Many of these efforts were counterproductive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/we-have-tried-to-change-regimes-through-a-variety-of-means-over-80/) [Ro Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/) > [We need to think about what Silicon Valley can contribute to the country - not just that somehow government bureaucrats should listen to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/we-need-to-think-about-what-silicon-valley-can-contribute-to-the/) [Ro Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/) > [My travels around the country have led me to believe that many communities want this diversity of opportunity. They're proud of the traditional industries,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/my-travels-around-the-country-have-led-me-to-believe-that-many/) [Ro Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/) > [We have to return to a foreign policy of restraint, one that develops our capabilities and our potential in communities across America, and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/we-have-to-return-to-a-foreign-policy-of-restraint-one-that-develops/) [Ro Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/) > [There's no doubt we need stronger antitrust enforcement. We shouldn't allow Amazon to privilege its own products on its platform, and we should make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/there-s-no-doubt-we-need-stronger-antitrust-enforcement-we-shouldn-t/) [Ro Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/) > [We should have companies required to get the consent of individuals before collecting their data, and we should have as individuals the right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/we-should-have-companies-required-to-get-the-consent-of-individuals/) [Ro Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/) > [We can't have all the concentration of wealth in a few places in this country. We've got to create economic opportunity and new industries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/we-can-t-have-all-the-concentration-of-wealth-in-a-few-places-in-this/) [Ro Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/) > [There is a risk that overt American support for Guaido could shore up Maduro's base and trigger displays of military force, potentially plunging Venezuela…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/there-is-a-risk-that-overt-american-support-for-guaido-could-shore-up/) [Ro Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/) > [I am not pollyannaish about the deep partisan battles that divide us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/i-am-not-pollyannaish-about-the-deep-partisan-battles-that-divide-us/) [Ro Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/) > [The challenge for America is: can we become a multicultural, multiracial democracy? It would be historic. It would be America's greatest contribution to human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/the-challenge-for-america-is-can-we-become-a-multicultural/) [Ro Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/) > [What makes the Amazon-Whole Foods deal so problematic is that they are going into an industry with large infrastructure, brick-and-mortar cost, and seeking to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/what-makes-the-amazon-whole-foods-deal-so-problematic-is-that-they/) [Ro Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/) > [Peter Thiel and I disagree on 99 percent of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/peter-thiel-and-i-disagree-on-99-percent-of-things/) [Ro Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/) [Explore all 100 Ro Khanna quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/) ## More Civil war quotes > [“Time overlaps itself. A breath breathed from a passing breeze is not the whole wind, neither is it just the last of what has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/time-overlaps-itself-a-breath-breathed-from-a-passing-breeze-is-not/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [“Whatever happened in those more than one hundred years, from the time my great-great-great grandfather studied law to the time when my own father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwenn-wright/whatever-happened-in-those-more-than-one-hundred-years-from-the-time/) [Gwenn Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwenn-wright/) > [“AUSTRALIA, LIKE THE UNITED STATES, experienced a different path to inclusive institutions than the one taken by England. The same revolutions that shook England…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/australia-like-the-united-states-experienced-a-different-path-to/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [“These are all good things, I said. But no one knows where your country is or who you are. You don't have a familiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/these-are-all-good-things-i-said-but-no-one-knows-where-your-country/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [“Thinking about the weather was one way of shutting out of his mind the appalling bloody human mess sprawled out over the bed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ellis/thinking-about-the-weather-was-one-way-of-shutting-out-of-his-mind/) [Mark Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ellis/) > [It cost about 75 cents to kill a man in Ceasar's time. The price rose to about $3,000 per man during the Napoleonic wars;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-bone/it-cost-about-75-cents-to-kill-a-man-in-ceasar-s-time-the-price-rose/) [Homer Bone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-bone/) > [Alabama soldiers, all I ask of you is to keep up with the Texans!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/alabama-soldiers-all-i-ask-of-you-is-to-keep-up-with-the-texans/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [“ “In the South, football is confused with religion, chivalry, the Civil War, and women.” -Diane Roberts, The Quotable South ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/in-the-south-football-is-confused-with-religion-chivalry-the-civil/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [“By the following morning, September 15, Jackson had positioned nearly fifty guns on Maryland Heights and at the base of Loudoun Heights.  Then he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/by-the-following-morning-september-15-jackson-had-positioned-nearly/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [Strange, (is it not?) that battles, martyrs, blood, even assassination should so condense - perhaps only really lastingly condense - a Nationality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/strange-is-it-not-that-battles-martyrs-blood-even-assassination/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [You must study to be frank with the world: frankness is the child of honesty and courage. Say just what you mean to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/you-must-study-to-be-frank-with-the-world-frankness-is-the-child-of/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [“Civil wars...are the best wars for the writer...because they have a way of continuing long afterwl wars between nations are resolved; because, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ellison/civil-wars-are-the-best-wars-for-the-writer-because-they-have-a-way/) [Ralph Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ellison/) > [I am out of money,we are all out of money,but we dont need money down here- Dont need anything but Men , Muskets, Ammunition,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-connolly/i-am-out-of-money-we-are-all-out-of-money-but-we-dont-need-money-down/) [James A. Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-connolly/) > [Affirmative action was designed to recognize the uniquely difficult journey of African-Americans. This policy was justifiable and understandable, even to those who came from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-webb/affirmative-action-was-designed-to-recognize-the-uniquely-difficult/) [Jim Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-webb/) > [“Only twenty - nine years in the entire human history had been without warfare, and now here he was too, travelling between the episodes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadeem-aslam/only-twenty-nine-years-in-the-entire-human-history-had-been-without/) [Nadeem Aslam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadeem-aslam/) [Browse all 1,714 Civil war quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not an apologist for Iran's actions. Iran certainly has supported activities of terrorism, and the Houthis don't have clean hands. The Houthis have engaged in crimes too. But the idea that that justifies American involvement in a civil war in Yemen doesn't make any sense strategically.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ro Khanna" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/i-m-not-an-apologist-for-iran-s-actions-iran-certainly-has-supported/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Civil war" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/i-m-not-an-apologist-for-iran-s-actions-iran-certainly-has-supported/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d6/ro-khanna-6046_civil-war_i-m-not-an-apologist-for-iran-s-actions_3023018.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d6/ro-khanna-6046_civil-war_i-m-not-an-apologist-for-iran-s-actions_3023018.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d6/ro-khanna-6046_civil-war_i-m-not-an-apologist-for-iran-s-actions_3023018.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm not an apologist for Iran's actions. Iran certainly has supported activities of terrorism, and the…” — Ro Khanna", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ro Khanna", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm not an apologist for Iran's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/i-m-not-an-apologist-for-iran-s-actions-iran-certainly-has-supported/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/i-m-not-an-apologist-for-iran-s-actions-iran-certainly-has-supported/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```