---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Saddam Hussein is being treated the exact…"
description: "\"Saddam Hussein is being treated the exact opposite of the way his regime treated those he imprisoned and tortured simply for expressing their opinions...."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff8/scott-mcclellan-14223_hussein_saddam-hussein-is-being-treated-the-exac_1169641.png"
---

#  Saddam Hussein is being treated the exact opposite of the…

![“Saddam Hussein is being treated the exact opposite of the way his regime treated those he imprisoned and tortured simply for expressing their opinions. And so I reject that.” quote by Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff8/scott-mcclellan-14223_hussein_saddam-hussein-is-being-treated-the-exac_1169641.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff8/scott-mcclellan-14223_hussein_saddam-hussein-is-being-treated-the-exac_1169641.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff8/scott-mcclellan-14223_hussein_saddam-hussein-is-being-treated-the-exac_1169641.png)

> “Saddam Hussein is being treated the exact opposite of the way his regime treated those he imprisoned and tortured simply for expressing their opinions. And so I reject that.”

[Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Retaliatory justice mirrors oppression, highlighting moral inconsistency in punitive actions.

**In simple terms:** Revenge repeats oppression.

Key Takeaway

Avoid cycles of retaliation.

Themes

justice revenge ethics

Mood

critical thought‑provoking

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

- political
- humanitarian law
- international relations

Key Concepts

human rights political accountability

Questions to Reflect On

- Is any retaliation ever justified?
- How can societies break cycles of oppression?

A Different Perspective

Retaliation may be seen as justified by victims.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

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## Related quotes

> [ Asked who attacked America on 9/11, \[Sarah Palin\] suggested several times that it was Saddam Hussein. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/asked-who-attacked-america-on-9-11-sarah-palin-suggested-several/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Saddam Hussein was a brutal tyrant. I am glad he is now on trial for crimes against humanity. But, opposition to a dictator is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/saddam-hussein-was-a-brutal-tyrant-i-am-glad-he-is-now-on-trial-for/)

[Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/)

> [We went into Iraq because Saddam Hussein refused to account for his weapons of mass destruction, consistently violated UN resolutions and in a post-9/11…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-went-into-iraq-because-saddam-hussein-refused-to-account-for-his/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Giving peace a chance only gives Saddam Hussein more time to prepare for war on his terms, at a time of his choosing, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/giving-peace-a-chance-only-gives-saddam-hussein-more-time-to-prepare/)

[John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/)

> [I think all of the attention of the world, to include the attention of the Arab world, should be on Saddam Hussein and whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/i-think-all-of-the-attention-of-the-world-to-include-the-attention-of/)

[Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/)

> [There's no question that Saddam Hussein is a threat to the United States and to our allies. If Saddam persists in thumbing his nose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/there-s-no-question-that-saddam-hussein-is-a-threat-to-the-united/)

[Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/)

> [Let's be clear: Neither Secretary Powell or I opposed the notion of removing Saddam Hussein by force, but we wanted to avoid the war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/let-s-be-clear-neither-secretary-powell-or-i-opposed-the-notion-of/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [But the world is a better place with Saddam Hussein gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/but-the-world-is-a-better-place-with-saddam-hussein-gone/)

[Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/)

> [If it was up to the U.N., Saddam Hussein would still be killing his own people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-carlson/if-it-was-up-to-the-u-n-saddam-hussein-would-still-be-killing-his-own/)

[Tucker Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-carlson/)

> [There's no question that Saddam Hussein is a threat Yes, he has chemical and biological weapons. He's had those for a long time. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-clark/there-s-no-question-that-saddam-hussein-is-a-threat-yes-he-has/)

[Wesley Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-clark/)

> [Under Saddam Hussein, the nation of Iraq possessed and used chemical weapons against both their own Kurdish population and Iranian military forces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/under-saddam-hussein-the-nation-of-iraq-possessed-and-used-chemical/)

[Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/)

> [ \[Saddam Hussein\] could have easily reconstituted a program. He was a threat to peace before we went in. He'd have been a threat to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/saddam-hussein-could-have-easily-reconstituted-a-program-he-was-a/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-british-government-has-learned-that-saddam-hussein-recently/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [We are well aware that he spent many hours recently tape recording various messages... we need to do a little more analysis of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-hoon/we-are-well-aware-that-he-spent-many-hours-recently-tape-recording/)

[Geoff Hoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-hoon/)

> [There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Saddam Hussein had and used significant weapons of mass destruction on his own people, both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-weldon/there-is-absolutely-no-doubt-in-my-mind-that-saddam-hussein-had-and/)

[Curt Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-weldon/)

## More by Scott McClellan

> [Critics have stepped up their attacks on the President for authorizing the National Security Agency to listen to international communications of known al Qaeda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/critics-have-stepped-up-their-attacks-on-the-president-for/)

[Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/)

> [As press secretary, I spent countless hours defending the administration from the podium in the White House briefing room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/as-press-secretary-i-spent-countless-hours-defending-the/)

[Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/)

> [I fell far short of living up to the kind of public servant I wanted to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/i-fell-far-short-of-living-up-to-the-kind-of-public-servant-i-wanted/)

[Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/)

> [We are disappointed at the decision. The president remains fully committed to building a culture of life ... that is built on valuing life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/we-are-disappointed-at-the-decision-the-president-remains-fully/)

[Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/)

> [I still like and admire George W. Bush. I consider him a fundamentally decent person, and I do not believe he or his White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/i-still-like-and-admire-george-w-bush-i-consider-him-a-fundamentally/)

[Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/)

> [If it takes talking about unpleasant truths to change Washington, then so be it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/if-it-takes-talking-about-unpleasant-truths-to-change-washington-then/)

[Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/)

> [I was raised on the values of speaking up and making a positive difference in a very political family that believed in the importance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/i-was-raised-on-the-values-of-speaking-up-and-making-a-positive/)

[Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/)

> [My criticisms are extremely mild in comparison to the tone of some of the questions fired in my direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/my-criticisms-are-extremely-mild-in-comparison-to-the-tone-of-some-of/)

[Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/)

> [I think that there's a tendency in this town to try to selectively pick snapshots when the broader reality is that we have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/i-think-that-there-s-a-tendency-in-this-town-to-try-to-selectively/)

[Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/)

> [There's a difference between loyal opposition that has a different view, and those who are advocating a defeatist approach that sends the wrong message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/there-s-a-difference-between-loyal-opposition-that-has-a-different/)

[Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/)

> [As a Texas loyalist who followed Bush to Washington with great hope and personal affection and as a proud member of his administration, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/as-a-texas-loyalist-who-followed-bush-to-washington-with-great-hope/)

[Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/)

> [I remember my mom saying to me that what your friends do is one thing, but what you do could be on the front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/i-remember-my-mom-saying-to-me-that-what-your-friends-do-is-one-thing/)

[Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/)

> [It's no coincidence that Superman's parents are Joseph and Martha Kent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/it-s-no-coincidence-that-superman-s-parents-are-joseph-and-martha-kent/)

[Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/)

> [The president said, 'You've got to vote your conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/the-president-said-you-ve-got-to-vote-your-conscience/)

[Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/)

> [I'm glad to share my views.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/i-m-glad-to-share-my-views/)

[Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/)

[Explore all 47 Scott McClellan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/)

## More Hussein quotes

> [I believe Saddam Hussein's strategic objective was, and remains, to assert dominance over the Gulf region.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-berger/i-believe-saddam-hussein-s-strategic-objective-was-and-remains-to/)

[Sandy Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-berger/)

> [ Asked who attacked America on 9/11, \[Sarah Palin\] suggested several times that it was Saddam Hussein. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/asked-who-attacked-america-on-9-11-sarah-palin-suggested-several/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [As Americans, we want peace - we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-americans-we-want-peace-we-work-and-sacrifice-for-peace-but-there/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [We are well aware that he spent many hours recently tape recording various messages... we need to do a little more analysis of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-hoon/we-are-well-aware-that-he-spent-many-hours-recently-tape-recording/)

[Geoff Hoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-hoon/)

> [The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-british-government-has-learned-that-saddam-hussein-recently/)

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> [I come to this debate, Mr. Speaker, as one at the end of 10 years in office on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-come-to-this-debate-mr-speaker-as-one-at-the-end-of-10-years-in/)

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> [The American people intuitively understand this, which is why the majority of Catholics practice birth control and some of those opposed to gay marriage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-american-people-intuitively-understand-this-which-is-why-the/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [we will encourage more Americans to study in Muslim communities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-will-encourage-more-americans-to-study-in-muslim-communities/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

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[Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/)

> [The White House was signaling that the threat posed by Saddam Hussein was of such urgency that it had priority over the crushing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-graham/the-white-house-was-signaling-that-the-threat-posed-by-saddam-hussein/)

[Bob Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-graham/)

> [No matter how tough Iraq became, removing Saddam Hussein was the right thing to do for the sake of peace and for the 25…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/no-matter-how-tough-iraq-became-removing-saddam-hussein-was-the-right/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [ \[Saddam Hussein\] could have easily reconstituted a program. He was a threat to peace before we went in. He'd have been a threat to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/saddam-hussein-could-have-easily-reconstituted-a-program-he-was-a/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [When I ran for the U.S. Senate the assumption was that anyone's name that was close to "Osama" doesn't stand a chance. So if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/when-i-ran-for-the-u-s-senate-the-assumption-was-that-anyone-s-name/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [The day of reckoning is not just coming for Saddam Hussein. It's coming for the anti-war movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-sullivan/the-day-of-reckoning-is-not-just-coming-for-saddam-hussein-it-s/)

[Andrew Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-sullivan/)

> [Under Saddam Hussein, the nation of Iraq possessed and used chemical weapons against both their own Kurdish population and Iranian military forces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/under-saddam-hussein-the-nation-of-iraq-possessed-and-used-chemical/)

[Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/)

[Browse all 512 Hussein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hussein/)

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