'We are not going to apologise for any small role we may have played in helping to remove a dictator who made his people suffer for 20 years, carried out horrific acts and didn't care about democracy. He is gone now, and thank God for that.' (May 2003 - speaking of the war in Iraq and the use of Shannon Airport for US military stopovers)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker justifies support for military action against a dictator by focusing on the relief of suffering.
- In plain terms
- He says they should not apologize for helping remove a cruel leader.
- What can you take from it?
- Removing a tyrant is seen as worth the cost.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is war justified?
- Who decides on intervention?
Another view
The decision to intervene often leads to unintended long-term consequences.
More from Bertie Ahern
'I've looked up every tree in north Dublin.' (speaking of his investigations into Ray Burke's past)
Permalink to quote #5 'We were always dead against the war.' (December 2003)
Permalink to quote #7 'The reason it's on the rise is because probably the boom times are getting even more boomer.' (commenting on rising inflation in the Irish economy)[1]
Permalink to quote #4
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