Skip to content
quotesby

Because Israel believes, when it comes right down to it America is the only big country that cares whether they live or die. That's why I can say, give up the West Bank, because the Israelis knew that if the Iraqi or the Iranian army came across the Jordan rival, I would personally grab a rifle, get in a ditch, and fight and die, and I would.

Bill Clinton#25

AlliancesCommitmentDefenseForeign policyInternational relationsMilitary

About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker claims US support is vital for Israel and promises personal military involvement if threatened.
In plain terms
US cares about Israel and I would fight for them personally.
What can you take from it?
Offer strong commitment to allies.

Where it applies

  • foreign policy
  • international security

Putting it to work

  • Make pledges to allies
  • Discuss military support

Questions to consider

  • What binds nations together?
  • When do leaders fight?

Another view

Personal promises depend on political circumstances.

More from Bill Clinton

  1. History has shown us, that you can't allow the mass extermination of people, and just sit by and watch it happen.

    Permalink to quote #24
  2. You should have disagreements with your leaders and your colleagues, but if it becomes immediately a question of questioning people's motives, and if immediate…

    Permalink to quote #26
  3. When we got organized as a country and we wrote a fairly radical Constitution with a radical Bill of Rights, giving a radical amount of individual freedom to A…

    Permalink to quote #23

Related quotes

  1. America must always be the world's paramount military power, but we can magnify our power through alliances.

    John KerryJohn Kerry quote #11
  2. At the present stage, the historic function of the Soviet Armed Forces is not restricted merely to their function in defending our motherland and the other soc…

    Andrei GrechkoAndrei Grechko quote #3
  3. Let us recollect that peace or war will not always be left to our option; that however moderate or unambitious we may be, we cannot count upon the moderation, …

    Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton quote #32