--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was helpful to have the American…" description: "\"It was helpful to have the American troops there in great strength. They knew there'd be consequences if they didn't move back. Now, there has been som..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/warren-christopher-15978_consequence_it-was-helpful-to-have-the-american-troo_1332228.jpg" --- # It was helpful to have the American troops there in great… ![“It was helpful to have the American troops there in great strength. They knew there'd be consequences if they didn't move back. Now, there has been some removal of the foreign forces.” quote by Warren Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/warren-christopher-15978_consequence_it-was-helpful-to-have-the-american-troo_1332228.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/warren-christopher-15978_consequence_it-was-helpful-to-have-the-american-troo_1332228.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a3/warren-christopher-15978_consequence_it-was-helpful-to-have-the-american-troo_1332228.jpg) > “It was helpful to have the American troops there in great strength. They knew there'd be consequences if they didn't move back. Now, there has been some removal of the foreign forces.” [Warren Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-christopher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The presence of strong American forces deterred aggression and facilitated diplomatic progress; their reduction signals a shift toward local responsibility. **In simple terms:** Strong US troops prevented conflict; their pullback changes dynamics. Key Takeaway Recognize the impact of security presence on negotiations. Themes diplomacy military strategy peacebuilding Mood cautious reflective Type political strategic When to use this quote - peace negotiations - conflict zones - military redeployment - regional stability Key Concepts deterrence power dynamics sovereignty Questions to Reflect On - How does troop withdrawal affect local actors? - What safeguards replace the deterrent effect? A Different Perspective Reduced US presence may embolden adversaries or create power vacuums. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American troops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-troops/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Foreign Forces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreign-forces-1505486/) [Helpful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helpful/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Removal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/removal/) [Removal Foreign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/removal-foreign-4474032/) [Troops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/troops/) [Troops Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/troops-great-1686213/) ## Related quotes > [I want the troops from Great Britain and the U.S. to be successful, but by the same token, Afghanistan has always been a screw-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/i-want-the-troops-from-great-britain-and-the-u-s-to-be-successful-but/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [We've had it very clear to the Bosnians that our obligation to equip and train their forces is completely conditional on the foreign forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-christopher/we-ve-had-it-very-clear-to-the-bosnians-that-our-obligation-to-equip/) [Warren Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-christopher/) > [It is essential that the foreign forces who have invaded and occupy large parts of the Congo halt their offensive action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holbrooke/it-is-essential-that-the-foreign-forces-who-have-invaded-and-occupy/) [Richard Holbrooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holbrooke/) > [Iraq is not occupied, but there are foreign forces on its soil, which is different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalal-talabani/iraq-is-not-occupied-but-there-are-foreign-forces-on-its-soil-which/) [Jalal Talabani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalal-talabani/) > [It's harder to end a war than begin one. Indeed, everything that American troops have done in Iraq -- all the fighting and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-harder-to-end-a-war-than-begin-one-indeed-everything-that/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Once again, President Clinton is using American troops to deflect attention from his record of lies, distortions, obstructions of justice and abuse of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/once-again-president-clinton-is-using-american-troops-to-deflect/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [The administration does not agree with those who suggest we should deploy hundreds of thousands of American troops to engage militarily in a ground…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/the-administration-does-not-agree-with-those-who-suggest-we-should/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [If we are going to commit American troops, we must be certain they have a clear mission, an achievable goal and an exit strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hughes/if-we-are-going-to-commit-american-troops-we-must-be-certain-they/) [Karen Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hughes/) > [It is a key fact about American policy in Vietnam that the withdrawel of American troops was built into it from the start. None…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-schell/it-is-a-key-fact-about-american-policy-in-vietnam-that-the-withdrawel/) [Jonathan Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-schell/) > [Our firm view is that the president has no legal authority, none whatsoever, to commit American troops to war in the Persian Gulf or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-j-mitchell/our-firm-view-is-that-the-president-has-no-legal-authority-none/) [George J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-j-mitchell/) > [I am shocked at the attitude of our American troops. They have no respect for death, the courage of an enemy soldier, or many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/i-am-shocked-at-the-attitude-of-our-american-troops-they-have-no/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [The presence of American troops is fueling the insurgency in Iraq, as acknowledged by General Casey and numerous other experts, and is helping terrorist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-conyers/the-presence-of-american-troops-is-fueling-the-insurgency-in-iraq-as/) [John Conyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-conyers/) > [I am very optimistic about -- about Iraq. I mean, this could be one of the great achievements of this administration. You're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-am-very-optimistic-about-about-iraq-i-mean-this-could-be-one-of-the/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I don't agree that you need an enormous number of American troops. Saddam's army is down to one-third than it was before, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-adelman/i-don-t-agree-that-you-need-an-enormous-number-of-american-troops/) [Kenneth Adelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-adelman/) > [Benchmarks, yes, we want the Iraqi government to do the things that will show progress. But to say, American troops are going to leave,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-bailey-hutchison/benchmarks-yes-we-want-the-iraqi-government-to-do-the-things-that/) [Kay Bailey Hutchison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-bailey-hutchison/) ## More by Warren Christopher > [When I was a very young lawyer, I had a senior partner who advised me never to get mad, except on purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-christopher/when-i-was-a-very-young-lawyer-i-had-a-senior-partner-who-advised-me/) [Warren Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-christopher/) > [Environmental degradation, overpopulation, refugees, narcotics, terrorism, world crime movements, and organized crime are worldwide problems that don't stop at a nation's borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-christopher/environmental-degradation-overpopulation-refugees-narcotics-terrorism/) [Warren Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-christopher/) > [I had all of one nanosecond to savor the news before we had to move on to other problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-christopher/i-had-all-of-one-nanosecond-to-savor-the-news-before-we-had-to-move/) [Warren Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-christopher/) > [I've got many close friends, but there's an awful lot about friendship that is not demonstrative in my case.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-christopher/i-ve-got-many-close-friends-but-there-s-an-awful-lot-about-friendship/) [Warren Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-christopher/) > [Hamas, the opponents of Arafat, the opponents of peace, urged a boycott of the election, and yet there was an 85 percent turnout where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-christopher/hamas-the-opponents-of-arafat-the-opponents-of-peace-urged-a-boycott/) [Warren Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-christopher/) > [We have a human rights interest. Then there is the immigration problem. The human-rights violations have caused people to take to boats and flood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-christopher/we-have-a-human-rights-interest-then-there-is-the-immigration-problem/) [Warren Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-christopher/) > [I'm very skeptical about the good intentions of Milosevic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-christopher/i-m-very-skeptical-about-the-good-intentions-of-milosevic/) [Warren Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-christopher/) > [The stakes are very high for us in Haiti. We have many important interests there. Perhaps the most important to me is our interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-christopher/the-stakes-are-very-high-for-us-in-haiti-we-have-many-important/) [Warren Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-christopher/) > [Only two countries in this hemisphere are not democratic, but many countries in both Central and South America, and in the Caribbean, are really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-christopher/only-two-countries-in-this-hemisphere-are-not-democratic-but-many/) [Warren Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-christopher/) > [I ask the Philippines Government to put an end to journalists' killings by giving journalists' safety the priority it deserves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-christopher/i-ask-the-philippines-government-to-put-an-end-to-journalists/) [Warren Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-christopher/) > [It's very important to always put things in their historical contexts. It teaches important lessons about the country in question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-christopher/it-s-very-important-to-always-put-things-in-their-historical-contexts/) [Warren Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-christopher/) > [We've worked with President Yeltsin. He is the President of the country. He's been a reformer. We've been able to accomplish a number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-christopher/we-ve-worked-with-president-yeltsin-he-is-the-president-of-the/) [Warren Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-christopher/) > [Both sides were supposed to release all their prisoners, those were unconditional. There was some prisoner release that took place but it's not been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-christopher/both-sides-were-supposed-to-release-all-their-prisoners-those-were/) [Warren Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-christopher/) > [I don't want to talk about intelligence matters. I will say, however, that intelligence-community estimates should not become public in the way of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-christopher/i-don-t-want-to-talk-about-intelligence-matters-i-will-say-however/) [Warren Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-christopher/) > [The United States has done more for the war crimes tribunal than any other country in the world. We're turning over all the information…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-christopher/the-united-states-has-done-more-for-the-war-crimes-tribunal-than-any/) [Warren Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-christopher/) [Explore all 41 Warren Christopher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-christopher/) ## More American troops quotes > [Benchmarks, yes, we want the Iraqi government to do the things that will show progress. But to say, American troops are going to leave,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-bailey-hutchison/benchmarks-yes-we-want-the-iraqi-government-to-do-the-things-that/) [Kay Bailey Hutchison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-bailey-hutchison/) > [I don't agree that you need an enormous number of American troops. Saddam's army is down to one-third than it was before, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-adelman/i-don-t-agree-that-you-need-an-enormous-number-of-american-troops/) [Kenneth Adelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-adelman/) > [I am very optimistic about -- about Iraq. I mean, this could be one of the great achievements of this administration. You're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-am-very-optimistic-about-about-iraq-i-mean-this-could-be-one-of-the/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The presence of American troops is fueling the insurgency in Iraq, as acknowledged by General Casey and numerous other experts, and is helping terrorist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-conyers/the-presence-of-american-troops-is-fueling-the-insurgency-in-iraq-as/) [John Conyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-conyers/) > [I am shocked at the attitude of our American troops. They have no respect for death, the courage of an enemy soldier, or many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/i-am-shocked-at-the-attitude-of-our-american-troops-they-have-no/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [Our firm view is that the president has no legal authority, none whatsoever, to commit American troops to war in the Persian Gulf or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-j-mitchell/our-firm-view-is-that-the-president-has-no-legal-authority-none/) [George J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-j-mitchell/) > [It is a key fact about American policy in Vietnam that the withdrawel of American troops was built into it from the start. None…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-schell/it-is-a-key-fact-about-american-policy-in-vietnam-that-the-withdrawel/) [Jonathan Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-schell/) > [If we are going to commit American troops, we must be certain they have a clear mission, an achievable goal and an exit strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hughes/if-we-are-going-to-commit-american-troops-we-must-be-certain-they/) [Karen Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hughes/) > [The administration does not agree with those who suggest we should deploy hundreds of thousands of American troops to engage militarily in a ground…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/the-administration-does-not-agree-with-those-who-suggest-we-should/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [When American troops find themselves fighting for their lives, there is no better sound than an A-10 - a plane officially nicknamed the Thunderbolt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-mcsally/when-american-troops-find-themselves-fighting-for-their-lives-there/) [Martha McSally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-mcsally/) > [Once again, President Clinton is using American troops to deflect attention from his record of lies, distortions, obstructions of justice and abuse of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/once-again-president-clinton-is-using-american-troops-to-deflect/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [It's harder to end a war than begin one. Indeed, everything that American troops have done in Iraq -- all the fighting and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-harder-to-end-a-war-than-begin-one-indeed-everything-that/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The terrorist threat to American troops has decreased in some ways because there's not 175,000 in a dangerous part of the world. There's only 15,000.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/the-terrorist-threat-to-american-troops-has-decreased-in-some-ways/) [Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/) > [I would not use American ground forces in Syria. I think that would be a very serious mistake. I don't think American troops should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-would-not-use-american-ground-forces-in-syria-i-think-that-would-be/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Three years into the war, tens of thousands of American troops remain targets of a growing Iraqi insurgency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/three-years-into-the-war-tens-of-thousands-of-american-troops-remain/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) [Browse all 49 American troops quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-troops/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It was helpful to have the American troops there in great strength. They knew there'd be consequences if they didn't move back. 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