--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: During the Cold War era, the issue was…" description: "\"During the Cold War era, the issue was the containment of Soviet influence, and we tolerated many an authoritarian regime as long as they were useful t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b03/zalmay-khalilzad-26467_cold_during-the-cold-war-era-the-issue-was-th_1431843.png" --- # During the Cold War era, the issue was the containment of… ![“During the Cold War era, the issue was the containment of Soviet influence, and we tolerated many an authoritarian regime as long as they were useful to us in this respect.” quote by Zalmay Khalilzad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b03/zalmay-khalilzad-26467_cold_during-the-cold-war-era-the-issue-was-th_1431843.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b03/zalmay-khalilzad-26467_cold_during-the-cold-war-era-the-issue-was-th_1431843.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b03/zalmay-khalilzad-26467_cold_during-the-cold-war-era-the-issue-was-th_1431843.png) > “During the Cold War era, the issue was the containment of Soviet influence, and we tolerated many an authoritarian regime as long as they were useful to us in this respect.” [Zalmay Khalilzad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zalmay-khalilzad/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. During the Cold War, the U.S. tolerated authoritarian regimes if they served anti‑Soviet goals, prioritizing strategic interests over democratic values. **In simple terms:** Strategic interests sometimes outweigh ideals. Key Takeaway Balance strategy with values. Themes realpolitik ethical compromise geopolitics Mood cautious analytical Type political historical When to use this quote - diplomacy - military alliances - human rights advocacy Key Concepts cold war containment foreign policy Questions to Reflect On - How should values influence strategic choices? - What are the costs of supporting authoritarian allies? A Different Perspective May undermine long‑term credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Cold war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-war/) [Containment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/containment/) [Eras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eras/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Soviet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviet/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Atlantic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. 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Behind the line lie all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/from-stettin-in-the-baltic-to-trieste-in-the-atlantic-an-iron-curtain/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“Once available, the inquisitorial toolbox could be put to use by any authoritarian regime with the will and the means to unpack and use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kirsch/once-available-the-inquisitorial-toolbox-could-be-put-to-use-by-any/) [Jonathan Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kirsch/) > [We are not and will never be an authoritarian regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/we-are-not-and-will-never-be-an-authoritarian-regime/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [Some believe that the only way to remove the authoritarian regime and replace it with a democratic one is through violent means. I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/some-believe-that-the-only-way-to-remove-the-authoritarian-regime-and/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [What we are seeing in Turkey is a non-uniformed authoritarian regime led by a politician, Tayyip Erdogan, who has allowed power to go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/what-we-are-seeing-in-turkey-is-a-non-uniformed-authoritarian-regime/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [What I find very painful are all these charges that democracy is really shaken in Poland, that we have been switching into some authoritarian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-duda/what-i-find-very-painful-are-all-these-charges-that-democracy-is/) [Andrzej Duda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-duda/) > [“if you didn’t get involved in anything controversial—politics, human rights, or anything to do with Chechnya—then you could get on with life and enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-browder/if-you-didn-t-get-involved-in-anything-controversial-politics-human/) [Bill Browder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-browder/) > [Obviously, Turkey is not a typical authoritarian regime, and obviously it's very important that there are free elections. But it's also obvious that this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-safak/obviously-turkey-is-not-a-typical-authoritarian-regime-and-obviously/) [Elif Safak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-safak/) > [A part of society in our countries would still prefer an authoritarian regime today. These are people with the mentality of Homo sovieticus. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-michnik/a-part-of-society-in-our-countries-would-still-prefer-an/) [Adam Michnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-michnik/) > [Censorship reflects a society's lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/potter-stewart/censorship-reflects-a-society-s-lack-of-confidence-in-itself-it-is-a/) [Potter Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/potter-stewart/) > [As every authoritarian regime knows, association can be a dangerous thing. From discussion it is only a few steps to action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-scott/as-every-authoritarian-regime-knows-association-can-be-a-dangerous/) Ann Scott > [We very clearly do not want an authoritarian regime... setting standards in the world marketplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratcliffe/we-very-clearly-do-not-want-an-authoritarian-regime-setting-standards/) [John Ratcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratcliffe/) ## More by Zalmay Khalilzad > [The U.S. and Iraq will work together next year to shift Iraqi resources from unproductive subsidies to productive uses that enable Iraqis to earn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zalmay-khalilzad/the-u-s-and-iraq-will-work-together-next-year-to-shift-iraqi/) [Zalmay Khalilzad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zalmay-khalilzad/) > [The feeling of being an Iraqi unites all ethnic groups within this country. Even the Kurds, who have traditionally pushed for their own state,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zalmay-khalilzad/the-feeling-of-being-an-iraqi-unites-all-ethnic-groups-within-this/) [Zalmay Khalilzad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zalmay-khalilzad/) > [Iran is undertaking a massive effort to expand its influence in southern Iraq. At the same time, that influence decreases the more the political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zalmay-khalilzad/iran-is-undertaking-a-massive-effort-to-expand-its-influence-in/) [Zalmay Khalilzad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zalmay-khalilzad/) > [In my job I do my best to look forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zalmay-khalilzad/in-my-job-i-do-my-best-to-look-forward/) [Zalmay Khalilzad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zalmay-khalilzad/) > [Success in Iraq will be a major setback for terrorists and a major asset for the security of this region. 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I occasionally threatened my Iranian counterpart in Kabul that one day… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zalmay-khalilzad/americans-have-eliminated-iran-s-worst-enemies-the-taliban-in/) [Zalmay Khalilzad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zalmay-khalilzad/) > [Today we're seeing fundamental conflicts within political Islam, with the fundamentalists on the one side and the moderates on the other. Who gains the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zalmay-khalilzad/today-we-re-seeing-fundamental-conflicts-within-political-islam-with/) [Zalmay Khalilzad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zalmay-khalilzad/) > [The terrorists want civil war. Al-Qaida is attacking Shiites. The Shiite militias are taking revenge on the Sunnis. And the Sunnis are become more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zalmay-khalilzad/the-terrorists-want-civil-war-al-qaida-is-attacking-shiites-the/) [Zalmay Khalilzad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zalmay-khalilzad/) > [Nation building is our central task, both in Afghanistan and in Iraq. And states, nations can't just be built with military power. Despite all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zalmay-khalilzad/nation-building-is-our-central-task-both-in-afghanistan-and-in-iraq/) [Zalmay Khalilzad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zalmay-khalilzad/) > [Everyone believes that the prospect for a civil war has diminished significantly over the past several days. All the mainstream leaders of Iraq believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zalmay-khalilzad/everyone-believes-that-the-prospect-for-a-civil-war-has-diminished/) [Zalmay Khalilzad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zalmay-khalilzad/) > [I constantly signal to the Iraqi leaders that our patience, or the patience of the American people, is running out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zalmay-khalilzad/i-constantly-signal-to-the-iraqi-leaders-that-our-patience-or-the/) [Zalmay Khalilzad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zalmay-khalilzad/) > [I consider the modernization of the Middle East the central challenge of our time. This region behaves as if it were disturbed, if you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zalmay-khalilzad/i-consider-the-modernization-of-the-middle-east-the-central-challenge/) [Zalmay Khalilzad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zalmay-khalilzad/) > [We're dealing with such enormous problems today that we have no other choice but to work together. If Iraq fails, if a religious civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zalmay-khalilzad/we-re-dealing-with-such-enormous-problems-today-that-we-have-no-other/) [Zalmay Khalilzad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zalmay-khalilzad/) [Explore all 21 Zalmay Khalilzad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zalmay-khalilzad/) ## More Cold quotes > [Once ye made up yer mind to do somethin', 'tis better t'stumble o'er the small hillock of jump-ahead than t'bash yer head on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/once-ye-made-up-yer-mind-to-do-somethin-tis-better-t-stumble-o-er-the/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [Of course Messi could handle a cold Tuesday night in Stoke. He'd be drinking tea and relaxing beforehand. Me? I'd probably be the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neymar/of-course-messi-could-handle-a-cold-tuesday-night-in-stoke-he-d-be/) [Neymar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neymar/) > [This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day \[as a Fairfax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young-folks-to-providing-bedfellows/) [George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/) > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) > [You start playing when it's cold and you want to be playing when it's cold again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimy-williams/you-start-playing-when-it-s-cold-and-you-want-to-be-playing-when-it-s/) Jimy Williams > [It would be a piece of ingenuousness to accuse the man of today of his lack of moral code. The accusation would leave him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/it-would-be-a-piece-of-ingenuousness-to-accuse-the-man-of-today-of/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [I would have touched it like a child But knew my finger could but have touched Cold stone and water. I grew wild, Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/i-would-have-touched-it-like-a-child-but-knew-my-finger-could-but/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [What's to become of the morally sound? Left out in the cold, I suppose. We must heal the sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/what-s-to-become-of-the-morally-sound-left-out-in-the-cold-i-suppose/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [When I first started, all the reviews of Cold Chisel would say, 'This singer won't have a voice in six months.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/when-i-first-started-all-the-reviews-of-cold-chisel-would-say-this/) [Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/) > [One of the problems trying to play an instrument outside in the cold is your fingers give up on you and you can't wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-macdonald/one-of-the-problems-trying-to-play-an-instrument-outside-in-the-cold/) [Amy Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-macdonald/) > [God tempers the cold to the shorn sheep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-etienne-sainte-claire-deville/god-tempers-the-cold-to-the-shorn-sheep/) Henri Etienne Sainte-Claire Deville > [Those nights lying alone are not discontinuous with this cold hectic dawn. It is who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-carson/those-nights-lying-alone-are-not-discontinuous-with-this-cold-hectic/) [Anne Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-carson/) [Browse all 5,381 Cold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "During the Cold War era, the issue was the containment of Soviet influence, and we tolerated many an authoritarian regime as long as they were useful to us in this respect.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zalmay Khalilzad" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zalmay-khalilzad/during-the-cold-war-era-the-issue-was-the-containment-of-soviet/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cold" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zalmay-khalilzad/during-the-cold-war-era-the-issue-was-the-containment-of-soviet/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b03/zalmay-khalilzad-26467_cold_during-the-cold-war-era-the-issue-was-th_1431843.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b03/zalmay-khalilzad-26467_cold_during-the-cold-war-era-the-issue-was-th_1431843.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b03/zalmay-khalilzad-26467_cold_during-the-cold-war-era-the-issue-was-th_1431843.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“During the Cold War era, the issue was the containment of Soviet influence, and we tolerated many an…” — Zalmay Khalilzad", "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": "Zalmay Khalilzad", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zalmay-khalilzad/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "During the Cold War era, the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zalmay-khalilzad/during-the-cold-war-era-the-issue-was-the-containment-of-soviet/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zalmay-khalilzad/during-the-cold-war-era-the-issue-was-the-containment-of-soviet/#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 } } ] } ```