--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We need not only an executive to make…" description: "\"We need not only an executive to make international law, but we need the military forces to enforce that law and the judicial system to bring the crimi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/walter-cronkite-1759_international-law_we-need-not-only-an-executive-to-make-in_1307781.png" --- # We need not only an executive to make international law… ![“We need not only an executive to make international law, but we need the military forces to enforce that law and the judicial system to bring the criminals to justice before they have the opportunity to build military forces that use these horrid weapons that rogue nations and movements can get…” quote by Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/walter-cronkite-1759_international-law_we-need-not-only-an-executive-to-make-in_1307781.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/walter-cronkite-1759_international-law_we-need-not-only-an-executive-to-make-in_1307781.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/walter-cronkite-1759_international-law_we-need-not-only-an-executive-to-make-in_1307781.png) > “We need not only an executive to make international law, but we need the military forces to enforce that law and the judicial system to bring the criminals to justice before they have the opportunity to build military forces that use these horrid weapons that rogue nations and movements can get hold of - germs and atomic weapons.” [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective law requires both legal frameworks and the power to enforce them, preventing dangerous weapons from falling into the wrong hands. **In simple terms:** Law needs enforcement and justice to stop weapons abuse. Key Takeaway Combine policy with capable forces and courts. Themes security law enforcement nonproliferation Mood concerned urgent Type political strategic When to use this quote - policy making - military planning - judicial reform - non‑state actor monitoring Key Concepts deterrence international law military ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can nations balance sovereignty with global enforcement? - What mechanisms ensure accountability for rogue actors? A Different Perspective Enforcement alone cannot guarantee compliance without political will. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [International law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international-law/) [Judicial system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judicial-system/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) ## Related quotes > [We need laws against rape and such violence; but at the same time, if women are misusing the law, we need to think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja-bedi/we-need-laws-against-rape-and-such-violence-but-at-the-same-time-if/) [Pooja Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooja-bedi/) > [All through nature, you will find the same law. First the need, then the means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/all-through-nature-you-will-find-the-same-law-first-the-need-then-the/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) > [Before people break the law, they need strong families - adult authority figures and the love of the family. When they step over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/before-people-break-the-law-they-need-strong-families-adult-authority/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [“..and the only law, that there need be you shall not take away the free from any man though different he.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-watts/and-the-only-law-that-there-need-be-you-shall-not-take-away-the-free/) [Malcolm Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-watts/) > [“Most of all though, Japan must not build up its military capabilities. It must, therefore, curtail large portions of its own industry, pay the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-hayes/most-of-all-though-japan-must-not-build-up-its-military-capabilities/) [Declan Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-hayes/) > [I suggested that we had experience in helping other countries build their military forces, and we would be willing and happy to do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bulent-ecevit/i-suggested-that-we-had-experience-in-helping-other-countries-build/) [Bulent Ecevit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bulent-ecevit/) > [We recognize that North Korea is in severe financial straits, and they have decided to use their resources to build their military, rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/we-recognize-that-north-korea-is-in-severe-financial-straits-and-they/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [ If we build our military up to Ronald Reagan levels, \[Vladimir\] Putin's not going to push us anywhere because he can't match us. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/if-we-build-our-military-up-to-ronald-reagan-levels-vladimir-putin-s/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [We will build our military forces to a level that will be, I believe, stronger than ever before if I become President of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-build-our-military-forces-to-a-level-that-will-be-i-believe/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [While men rule the world they need the military, women should only need secret agents ;)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrea/while-men-rule-the-world-they-need-the-military-women-should-only/) Adrea > [We must never forget why we have, and why we need our military. Our armed forces exist solely to ensure our nation is safe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/we-must-never-forget-why-we-have-and-why-we-need-our-military-our/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [We need military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-weller/we-need-military-border-patrols-to-battle-drugs-terrorism/) [Jerry Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-weller/) > [We don't stop and realize that we are dealing with people - the far-left doesn't think we need a military to start with, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-inhofe/we-don-t-stop-and-realize-that-we-are-dealing-with-people-the-far/) [James Inhofe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-inhofe/) > [I don't live under the illusion we don't need a military to protect this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/i-don-t-live-under-the-illusion-we-don-t-need-a-military-to-protect/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [We don't need military weapons in our society. We're not supposed to be at war with one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/we-don-t-need-military-weapons-in-our-society-we-re-not-supposed-to/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) ## More by Walter Cronkite > [I'm a liberal, but I'm not biased. Seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-m-a-liberal-but-i-m-not-biased-seriously/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I've gone from the most trusted man in America to one of the most debated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-ve-gone-from-the-most-trusted-man-in-america-to-one-of-the-most/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I do think that the success, although still not complete... in the recognition of equal rights... to all Americans, regardless of color, creed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-do-think-that-the-success-although-still-not-complete-in-the/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [Be kind to an old man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/be-kind-to-an-old-man/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I learned early on that in the real world, the masks of tragedy and comedy adorn the proscenium of every life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-learned-early-on-that-in-the-real-world-the-masks-of-tragedy-and/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [It is clear that military force and our policy of preemption are alone insufficient to make us safe. But help is on the way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/it-is-clear-that-military-force-and-our-policy-of-preemption-are/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [In all my years as a news commentator I was never once, able to tell the truth, about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/in-all-my-years-as-a-news-commentator-i-was-never-once-able-to-tell/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I think people make way too much of ratings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-think-people-make-way-too-much-of-ratings/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I grew my mustache when I was nineteen in order to look older. I never shaved it off even though it overran its usefulness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-grew-my-mustache-when-i-was-nineteen-in-order-to-look-older-i-never/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I'm so tired of stories starting, 'Maud Jones was walking her dog down Broadway.' You've got to go over to the back page somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-m-so-tired-of-stories-starting-maud-jones-was-walking-her-dog-down/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [All through my life, I have never disguised my sentiments about politics in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/all-through-my-life-i-have-never-disguised-my-sentiments-about/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [The battle for the airwaves cannot be limited to only those who have the bank accounts to pay for the battle and win it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/the-battle-for-the-airwaves-cannot-be-limited-to-only-those-who-have/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [The successful landing on the moon, very probably, is the best story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/the-successful-landing-on-the-moon-very-probably-is-the-best-story/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [If, as they say, the threat of the hangman's noose has a powerful way of focusing one's attention, the same can be said of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/if-as-they-say-the-threat-of-the-hangman-s-noose-has-a-powerful-way/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [We must strengthen the United Nations as a first step toward a World Government, patterned after our Own Government with a legislature, executive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/we-must-strengthen-the-united-nations-as-a-first-step-toward-a-world/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) [Explore all 210 Walter Cronkite quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) ## More International law quotes > [The G7 and former G8 group has always viewed itself as a community of values, the annexation of Crimea, which is a blatant violation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/the-g7-and-former-g8-group-has-always-viewed-itself-as-a-community-of/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [The sanctions may be imposed only by the decision of the UN Security Council. A unilateral imposition of sanctions is a violation of international…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/the-sanctions-may-be-imposed-only-by-the-decision-of-the-un-security/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [The core issue here is that the Israeli government refuses to commit to terms of reference for the negotiations that are based on international…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-abbas/the-core-issue-here-is-that-the-israeli-government-refuses-to-commit/) [Mahmoud Abbas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-abbas/) > [“International law now covers vast and complex areas of transnational concern, including traditional topics, such as the position of states,59 state succession,60 state responsibility,61…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/international-law-now-covers-vast-and-complex-areas-of-transnational/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Historically, international law lent a measure of legality to the colonial system, and allowed the West to set the rules for participation as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/historically-international-law-lent-a-measure-of-legality-to-the/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [We as a human family are on this train that is taking us into more and more war and more and more abuse of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/we-as-a-human-family-are-on-this-train-that-is-taking-us-into-more/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [“It is a tragedy, at rate at which EBOLA VIRUS is spreading in West Africa. It is a fatal disease in the history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/it-is-a-tragedy-at-rate-at-which-ebola-virus-is-spreading-in-west/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Insofar as international law is observed, it provides us with stability and order and with a means of predicting the behavior of those with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/insofar-as-international-law-is-observed-it-provides-us-with/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [I would have oriented myself in case of Donald Trump according to what former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder said to then - U.S. President…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/i-would-have-oriented-myself-in-case-of-donald-trump-according-to/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [Setting aside human rights and international law to have an agenda of war and killing and occupation to me is totally unacceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/setting-aside-human-rights-and-international-law-to-have-an-agenda-of/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [I don't really have opinions about the future of Hamas and Israel beyond the question of justice and safety and the fact that anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zohran-mamdani/i-don-t-really-have-opinions-about-the-future-of-hamas-and-israel/) [Zohran Mamdani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zohran-mamdani/) > [“On the afternoon of August 9, hearing the news that Nagasaki had been bombed, Emperor Hirohito called an imperial conference at which his ministers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-weller/on-the-afternoon-of-august-9-hearing-the-news-that-nagasaki-had-been/) George Weller > [ The just response to this terrible event \[9/11\] should be to go immediately to the world community, the United Nations. The rule of international… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/the-just-response-to-this-terrible-event-9-11-should-be-to-go/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [If I were doing the Security Council today, I'd have one permanent member, the United States, because that's the real reflection of the distribution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/if-i-were-doing-the-security-council-today-i-d-have-one-permanent/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [It will not do to say that international law is the enemy of the Jewish people, since the Jewish people surely did not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/it-will-not-do-to-say-that-international-law-is-the-enemy-of-the/) [Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/) [Browse all 238 International law quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international-law/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We need not only an executive to make international law, but we need the military forces to enforce that law and the judicial system to bring the criminals to justice before they have the opportunity to build military forces that use these horrid weapons that rogue nations and movements can get hold of - germs and atomic weapons.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter Cronkite" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/we-need-not-only-an-executive-to-make-international-law-but-we-need/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "International law" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/we-need-not-only-an-executive-to-make-international-law-but-we-need/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/walter-cronkite-1759_international-law_we-need-not-only-an-executive-to-make-in_1307781.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/walter-cronkite-1759_international-law_we-need-not-only-an-executive-to-make-in_1307781.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/walter-cronkite-1759_international-law_we-need-not-only-an-executive-to-make-in_1307781.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We need not only an executive to make international law, but we need the military forces to enforce that law…” — Walter Cronkite", "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": "Walter Cronkite", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We need not only an executive...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/we-need-not-only-an-executive-to-make-international-law-but-we-need/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/we-need-not-only-an-executive-to-make-international-law-but-we-need/#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 } } ] } ```