--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let's go back to the beginning of the…" description: "\"Let's go back to the beginning of the Obama administration, when Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama led NATO in toppling the government in Libya. They di..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/ted-cruz-487_administration_let-s-go-back-to-the-beginning-of-the-ob_2696355.jpg" --- # Let's go back to the beginning of the Obama… ![“Let's go back to the beginning of the Obama administration, when Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama led NATO in toppling the government in Libya. They did it because they wanted to promote democracy. A number of Republicans supported them. Well, the result is, Libya is now a terrorist war zone run…” quote by Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/ted-cruz-487_administration_let-s-go-back-to-the-beginning-of-the-ob_2696355.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/ted-cruz-487_administration_let-s-go-back-to-the-beginning-of-the-ob_2696355.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/ted-cruz-487_administration_let-s-go-back-to-the-beginning-of-the-ob_2696355.jpg) > “Let's go back to the beginning of the Obama administration, when Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama led NATO in toppling the government in Libya. They did it because they wanted to promote democracy. A number of Republicans supported them. Well, the result is, Libya is now a terrorist war zone run by jihadists.” [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. U.S. leaders aimed to spread democracy in Libya, but the outcome was a chaotic war zone under jihadist control. **In simple terms:** Democracy promotion led to unintended violent results. Key Takeaway Assess long‑term consequences before intervening. Themes foreign policy democracy intervention unintended consequences Mood critical cautious Type political analytical When to use this quote - military strategy - diplomacy - humanitarian aid - legislative oversight Key Concepts geopolitics regime change terrorism policy analysis Questions to Reflect On - What lessons can be learned from Libya? - How should future interventions be evaluated? A Different Perspective Short‑term goals may ignore complex local dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) [Barack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barack/) [Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clinton/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Libya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-libya-2698392/) [Led Nato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/led-nato-2698391/) [Libya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libya/) [Libya Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libya-did-2698389/) [NATO](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nato/) [Nato Toppling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nato-toppling-2698390/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Obama administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obama-administration/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Terrorist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorist/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War zone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-zone/) [War zones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-zones/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Zone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zone/) ## Related quotes > [When President Obama in 2011 used military power against the Qaddafi regime in Libya, he did not even notify Congress. A few in Congress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-kalb/when-president-obama-in-2011-used-military-power-against-the-qaddafi/) [Marvin Kalb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-kalb/) > [The government of Libya announced the death of Moammar Gadhafi. This marks the end of a long and painful chapter for the people of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-government-of-libya-announced-the-death-of-moammar-gadhafi-this/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I'd been to a number of war zones before in my life, but I had never been in one as terrifying as Chechnya.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-anderson/i-d-been-to-a-number-of-war-zones-before-in-my-life-but-i-had-never/) [Scott Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-anderson/) > [I understood why war zones are called 'theaters' because they frame a kind of play acting or, worse, deceit, that can stain a human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretel-ehrlich/i-understood-why-war-zones-are-called-theaters-because-they-frame-a/) [Gretel Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretel-ehrlich/) > [I've gone to war zones before and never got shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manute-bol/i-ve-gone-to-war-zones-before-and-never-got-shot/) [Manute Bol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manute-bol/) > [It's become a cliche to think of marriage as a disaster area and a war zone. Although political shows are really popular now, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-daly/it-s-become-a-cliche-to-think-of-marriage-as-a-disaster-area-and-a/) [Tim Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-daly/) > [You look at any war zone and you talk to any soldiers and they have to blank out - in order for that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/you-look-at-any-war-zone-and-you-talk-to-any-soldiers-and-they-have/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [I'd spent thirty years visiting the Dalai Lama, and twenty years as a journalist going to difficult places, war zones and revolutions from North…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/i-d-spent-thirty-years-visiting-the-dalai-lama-and-twenty-years-as-a/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [Playing music in the wake of the Blink thing was like finding love in the middle of a war zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delonge/playing-music-in-the-wake-of-the-blink-thing-was-like-finding-love-in/) [Tom DeLonge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delonge/) > [ \[Negro\] should realize that he is living in a war zone, and he is at war with an enemy that is as vicious and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/negro-should-realize-that-he-is-living-in-a-war-zone-and-he-is-at-war/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Generally it's not a good idea to wear Banana Republic - type khaki journalist clothes in a war zone. You might look too much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/generally-it-s-not-a-good-idea-to-wear-banana-republic-type-khaki/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I live in a war zone. I would never have imagined 37 years ago when I started practicing law that there would still be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-allred/i-live-in-a-war-zone-i-would-never-have-imagined-37-years-ago-when-i/) [Gloria Allred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-allred/) > [Well, the fact that the news industry doesn't have enough money to only send salaried staff to war zones means there is an enormous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-junger/well-the-fact-that-the-news-industry-doesn-t-have-enough-money-to/) [Sebastian Junger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-junger/) > [Police do not belong in war zones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keys-moran/police-do-not-belong-in-war-zones/) [Daniel Keys Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keys-moran/) > [In Southern West Virginia we live in a war zone. Three and one-half million pounds of explosives are being used every day to blow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-bonds/in-southern-west-virginia-we-live-in-a-war-zone-three-and-one-half/) [Judy Bonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-bonds/) ## More by Ted Cruz > [I was born in Cuba. At the age of 14 years of age I was involved in a revolution. We were suffering from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-was-born-in-cuba-at-the-age-of-14-years-of-age-i-was-involved-in-a/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [ Donald Trump has opened \[ politically correct enforcement\] up wide. He's made a very bold statement and he's backed it back just a little… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-has-opened-politically-correct-enforcement-up-wide-he-s/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I get that the media wants us to play theater critics and critique every other proposal. What I'm focusing on are my own policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-get-that-the-media-wants-us-to-play-theater-critics-and-critique/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [We need to remain a nation that doesn't just welcome but that celebrates legal immigrants who come here seeking to pursue the American Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/we-need-to-remain-a-nation-that-doesn-t-just-welcome-but-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Donald Trump threatened to file a defamation suit against me for running a TV ad that consisted only entirely of his own words on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-threatened-to-file-a-defamation-suit-against-me-for/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The immigrant experience of all of us is what makes us Americans, because we value in our DNA liberty and opportunity above all else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-immigrant-experience-of-all-of-us-is-what-makes-us-americans/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The First Amendment exists to protect our religious liberty--to ensure that all Americans are able to seek out worship God with all our hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-first-amendment-exists-to-protect-our-religious-liberty-to-ensure/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [It is my hope that all of the Republicans who recognize that nominating a candidate who agrees with Hillary Clinton on a host of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/it-is-my-hope-that-all-of-the-republicans-who-recognize-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The Senate Majority Leader has the unilateral ability to stand up and say, 'If you defy Congress, if you defy the Constitution, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-senate-majority-leader-has-the-unilateral-ability-to-stand-up-and/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [You can't get to a balanced budget and begin to pay down debt and thus create jobs in this country if you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/you-can-t-get-to-a-balanced-budget-and-begin-to-pay-down-debt-and/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [That's what actually caused me to run for office is, you know, my family story, the experience of growing up in a family where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/that-s-what-actually-caused-me-to-run-for-office-is-you-know-my/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [When you subpoena one pastor, you subpoena every pastor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/when-you-subpoena-one-pastor-you-subpoena-every-pastor/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [One of the things we've seen here is how easy it is for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to get distracted from dealing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/one-of-the-things-we-ve-seen-here-is-how-easy-it-is-for-barack-obama/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Imagine a legal immigration system that welcomes and celebrates those who come to achieve the American dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/imagine-a-legal-immigration-system-that-welcomes-and-celebrates-those/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The court follows elite opinion, not public opinion. And Democratic leaders in Congress and Republican leaders in Congress follow elite opinion as well. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-court-follows-elite-opinion-not-public-opinion-and-democratic/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) [Explore all 523 Ted Cruz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) ## More Administration quotes > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you want to serve in a Trump administration, you're going to serve this country, not yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-spicer/if-you-want-to-serve-in-a-trump-administration-you-re-going-to-serve/) [Sean Spicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-spicer/) > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [I don't believe anyone that I know in the administration ever said that Iraq had nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/i-don-t-believe-anyone-that-i-know-in-the-administration-ever-said/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [What was unique about me being in City Hall during the Giuliani Administration, I was the only one who wasn't an attorney. I may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/what-was-unique-about-me-being-in-city-hall-during-the-giuliani/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [The Trump administration launched the cruise missile strikes in Syria, an act of war, without a U.N. resolution or Congressional authorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-trump-administration-launched-the-cruise-missile-strikes-in-syria/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The only way I'll ever run a marathon is if I'm involved in the administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/the-only-way-i-ll-ever-run-a-marathon-is-if-i-m-involved-in-the/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [Obama spent the first two years of his administration practicing political unilateral disarmament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/obama-spent-the-first-two-years-of-his-administration-practicing/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/) [Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/) > [In mid-May, the House of Representatives approved the full amount of money that the Veterans Administration said was needed for next year - plus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/in-mid-may-the-house-of-representatives-approved-the-full-amount-of/) [Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/) > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [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/) > [We will finally complete the biometric entry-exit visa tracking system, which we need desperately. For years Congress has required biometric entry-exit visa tracking systems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-finally-complete-the-biometric-entry-exit-visa-tracking/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) [Browse all 1,855 Administration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let's go back to the beginning of the Obama administration, when Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama led NATO in toppling the government in Libya. They did it because they wanted to promote democracy. A number of Republicans supported them. 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