---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Having defeated and then occupied Iraq…"
description: "\"Having defeated and then occupied Iraq, democratizing the country should not be too tall an order for the world's sole superpower.\" — William Kristol"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56e/william-kristol-9091_country_having-defeated-and-then-occupied-iraq-d_1054664.jpg"
---

#  Having defeated and then occupied Iraq, democratizing the…

![“Having defeated and then occupied Iraq, democratizing the country should not be too tall an order for the world's sole superpower.” quote by William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56e/william-kristol-9091_country_having-defeated-and-then-occupied-iraq-d_1054664.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56e/william-kristol-9091_country_having-defeated-and-then-occupied-iraq-d_1054664.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56e/william-kristol-9091_country_having-defeated-and-then-occupied-iraq-d_1054664.jpg)

> “Having defeated and then occupied Iraq, democratizing the country should not be too tall an order for the world's sole superpower.”

[William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Democratizing Iraq is a modest task for the United States, given its dominance.

**In simple terms:** US should easily democratize Iraq.

Key Takeaway

Recognize limits of power.

Themes

politics foreign policy democracy

Mood

skeptical critical

Type

political analytical

When to use this quote

- policy planning
- military strategy
- diplomacy
- public debate

Key Concepts

hegemony nation‑building realism

Questions to Reflect On

- Is democratization truly simple for a superpower?
- What obstacles might the US face?

A Different Perspective

Assumes US willingness and resources are unlimited.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Defeated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeated/) [Defeated Occupied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeated-occupied-1828051/) [Democratizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratizing-318174/) [Democratizing Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratizing-country-2543007/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Iraq Democratizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq-democratizing-2543006/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Occupied Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occupied-iraq-1719866/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Sole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sole/) [Superpower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superpower/) [Tall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tall/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

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