--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sanctions aren't about weapons of mass…" description: "\"Sanctions aren't about weapons of mass destruction. People need to understand that.\" — Scott Ritter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/166/scott-ritter-13498_destruction_sanctions-aren-t-about-weapons-of-mass-d_530892.jpg" --- # Sanctions aren't about weapons of mass destruction. People… ![“Sanctions aren't about weapons of mass destruction. People need to understand that.” quote by Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/166/scott-ritter-13498_destruction_sanctions-aren-t-about-weapons-of-mass-d_530892.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/166/scott-ritter-13498_destruction_sanctions-aren-t-about-weapons-of-mass-d_530892.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/166/scott-ritter-13498_destruction_sanctions-aren-t-about-weapons-of-mass-d_530892.jpg) > “Sanctions aren't about weapons of mass destruction. People need to understand that.” [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sanctions target behavior and policy, not just weapons, to pressure change. **In simple terms:** Sanctions aim at influencing actions, not only weapons. Key Takeaway Recognize broader impacts of sanctions. Themes politics economics policy human rights Mood critical analytical Type policy commentary When to use this quote - government negotiations - humanitarian aid - corporate compliance Key Concepts coercive diplomacy strategic pressure Questions to Reflect On - How do sanctions affect ordinary people? - What alternatives exist to sanctions? A Different Perspective Sanctions can harm civilians; unintended consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Mass destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass-destruction/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sanctions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctions/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) [Weapons of mass destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons-of-mass-destruction/) ## Related quotes > [Weapons of mass destruction aren't pulled out of a black hat like a white rabbit at a magic show. They're produced in factories. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/weapons-of-mass-destruction-aren-t-pulled-out-of-a-black-hat-like-a/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [At another location, we found barrels of chemical material that was intended for use as biochemical weapons. Everyone talks about there being no weapons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/at-another-location-we-found-barrels-of-chemical-material-that-was/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [We never believed that we'd just tumble over weapons of mass destruction in that country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/we-never-believed-that-we-d-just-tumble-over-weapons-of-mass/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [ What we also know is we haven't found them \[weapons of mass destruction\] in Iraq - now let the survey group complete its work… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/what-we-also-know-is-we-haven-t-found-them-weapons-of-mass/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [That's why they (the Bush administration) had to make up that story about weapons of mass destruction. Because that was the only thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/that-s-why-they-the-bush-administration-had-to-make-up-that-story/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [I don't concede that Guccifer is a Russian agent. Officials also said, that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. Just because the intelligence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-stone/i-don-t-concede-that-guccifer-is-a-russian-agent-officials-also-said/) [Roger Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-stone/) > [“Who needs immortal strength when you've got weapons of mass destruction?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-saare/who-needs-immortal-strength-when-you-ve-got-weapons-of-mass/) [J.A. Saare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-saare/) > [Hussein has chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/hussein-has-chosen-to-spend-his-money-on-building-weapons-of-mass/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/simply-stated-there-is-no-doubt-that-saddam-hussein-now-has-weapons/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [Instead of building newer and larger weapons of mass destruction, I think mankind should try to get more use out of the ones we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/instead-of-building-newer-and-larger-weapons-of-mass-destruction-i/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“Unfortunately, however, weapons of mass destruction tend to attract maniacs: men - it's almost always men - who want to jab the red button…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/unfortunately-however-weapons-of-mass-destruction-tend-to-attract/) [Mal Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/) > [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/) > [Never, never tell jokes about a man with easy access to weapons of mass destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-chernin/never-never-tell-jokes-about-a-man-with-easy-access-to-weapons-of/) [Peter Chernin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-chernin/) > [Free nations don't develop weapons of mass destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/free-nations-don-t-develop-weapons-of-mass-destruction/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I have absolutely no doubt at all that we will find evidence of weapons of mass destruction programmes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-have-absolutely-no-doubt-at-all-that-we-will-find-evidence-of/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) ## More by Scott Ritter > [When I resigned, I put the U.S. Government on notice that I'm going to stick to policy issues, that I have no intention of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/when-i-resigned-i-put-the-u-s-government-on-notice-that-i-m-going-to/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [I didn't promote war when I was a weapons inspector.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/i-didn-t-promote-war-when-i-was-a-weapons-inspector/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [While we were never able to provide 100 percent certainty regarding the disposition of Iraq's proscribed weaponry, we did ascertain a 90-95 percent level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/while-we-were-never-able-to-provide-100-percent-certainty-regarding/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [I don't disagree with anything I've ever said. Why in God's name would I disagree with something I've said?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/i-don-t-disagree-with-anything-i-ve-ever-said-why-in-god-s-name-would/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [I think the danger right now is that without effective inspections, without effective monitoring, Iraq can in a very short period of time measured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/i-think-the-danger-right-now-is-that-without-effective-inspections/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [I consider myself to be a true friend of the Israeli people. But I define friendship as someone who takes care of a friend,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/i-consider-myself-to-be-a-true-friend-of-the-israeli-people-but-i/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [We say that we care about the war, but we don't even really know what we're fighting for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/we-say-that-we-care-about-the-war-but-we-don-t-even-really-know-what/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [If you call yourself an American that means that you have embraced the constitution, because that is what an American is. A citizen of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/if-you-call-yourself-an-american-that-means-that-you-have-embraced/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [The Iraqi people are some of the warmest people you'll meet in your life. They are extremely receptive to strangers. Their hospitality is immense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/the-iraqi-people-are-some-of-the-warmest-people-you-ll-meet-in-your/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [There are people in Baghdad pursuing the initiative that I started, and I want to give them every chance of success. I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/there-are-people-in-baghdad-pursuing-the-initiative-that-i-started/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [My goal in Baghdad was to facilitate a debate here in the United States on America's policy toward Iraq, a debate that's been sadly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/my-goal-in-baghdad-was-to-facilitate-a-debate-here-in-the-united/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [I'm someone who believes the truth needs to be heard. And if I'm empowered with the truth, I'm not going to shut up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/i-m-someone-who-believes-the-truth-needs-to-be-heard-and-if-i-m/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [“We have become a nation not of citizens but of consumers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/we-have-become-a-nation-not-of-citizens-but-of-consumers/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [The only way an Iraqi biological agent would kill you is if it landed on your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/the-only-way-an-iraqi-biological-agent-would-kill-you-is-if-it-landed/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [The most dangerous thing Iraq could have ever had was a nuclear weapon. The nuclear weapon Iraq was trying to build was not deliverable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/the-most-dangerous-thing-iraq-could-have-ever-had-was-a-nuclear/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) [Explore all 50 Scott Ritter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) ## More Destruction quotes > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are no white lies, there is only the blackest of destruction, and a white lie is the blackest of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/there-are-no-white-lies-there-is-only-the-blackest-of-destruction-and/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [A time will come when the science of destruction shall bend before the arts of peace; when the genius which multiplies our powers, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-arago/a-time-will-come-when-the-science-of-destruction-shall-bend-before/) [Francois Arago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-arago/) > [Perhaps the greatest and least visible form of impoverishment caused by the Corporate State is the destruction of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/perhaps-the-greatest-and-least-visible-form-of-impoverishment-caused/) [Charles A. Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-reich/) > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Death is but an aspect of life, and the destruction of one material form is but a prelude to building up of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-but-an-aspect-of-life-and-the-destruction-of-one-material/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Hundreds of millions of human beings on our planet increasingly suffer from unemployment, poverty, hunger, and the destruction of their families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-kung/hundreds-of-millions-of-human-beings-on-our-planet-increasingly/) [Hans Kung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-kung/) > [Away with you, water, destruction of wine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/away-with-you-water-destruction-of-wine/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [Some voluntary castaways there will always be, whom no fostering kindness and no parental care can preserve from self-destruction; but if any are lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/some-voluntary-castaways-there-will-always-be-whom-no-fostering/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [“You are a lawmaker in your own right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-are-a-lawmaker-in-your-own-right/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [ No visiting angel, or explorer from another planet, could have guessed that this bland orb \[Earth\] teemed with vermin, with world-mastering, self-torturing, incipiently angelic… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/no-visiting-angel-or-explorer-from-another-planet-could-have-guessed/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [As far as I know, the question of whether and how it could be strategically or morally justified was never the subject of open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-far-as-i-know-the-question-of-whether-and-how-it-could-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Is there some lesson on how to be friends? I think what it means is that central to living a life that is good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/is-there-some-lesson-on-how-to-be-friends-i-think-what-it-means-is/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [“We're on the eve of destruction. Men have lost all sense of honor. Power has become their faith instead of faith being their power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atiq-rahimi/we-re-on-the-eve-of-destruction-men-have-lost-all-sense-of-honor/) Atiq Rahimi [Browse all 3,161 Destruction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sanctions aren't about weapons of mass destruction. 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