Allies Quote by Sidney Blumenthal
“In every single case, the truth is that the atmosphere created by the Iraq invasion and the staggeringly mismanaged occupation has incited terrorists to act. It's been a contributing factor. It's unavoidable throughout Europe - in Spain, in Germany, in Britain. The truth is that we need long-term American policy to shift in order to really soak up and get rid of these sources of terrorism that threaten our Western allies.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Middle East policy, 2005
The Iraq invasion and its chaotic aftermath have fueled terrorism across Europe, requiring a revised long‑term US strategy to protect allies.
In simple terms: Iraq war sparked terrorism in Europe; US must change policy.
Key Takeaway
Adopt sustained, strategic US policies.
Themes
terrorism
foreign policy
US strategy
European security
Mood
concerned
urgent
Type
analytical
strategic
When to use this quote
- policy planning
- diplomatic negotiations
- counter‑terrorism operations
- public outreach
- alliances
Key Concepts
geopolitics
state failure
radicalization
Questions to Reflect On
- How can the US address underlying causes of terrorism?
- What role should European nations play?
A Different Perspective
Changing policy alone may not erase deep‑rooted grievances.
![“I also think that we [Americans] are operating out of fear in our country. It's not that terrorism is not a threat, but it's not an existential threat. It is not the preeminent threat facing most Americans on any given day, and yet the power of nightmares is so strong.” quote by Jeremy Scahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/db2/jeremy-scahill-24616_country_i-also-think-that-we-americans-are-opera_2304418.jpg)
![“I believe that we [Americans] are making more new enemies than we are killing terrorists at this point, and I think it's time that we stepped back from this aggressive assertion that we can just go to any country and conduct lethal operations.” quote by Jeremy Scahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cce/jeremy-scahill-24616_aggressive_i-believe-that-we-americans-are-making-m_1270835.jpg)
![“No wonder that Churchill described this effort [the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than the buzz bombs and the rockets that Werner von Braun designed for a German victory, a weapon absolutely decisive, in the judgement of…” quote by Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5c3/peter-hilton-61015_allies_no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this_4600.jpg)
