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About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker justifies military involvement by honoring sacrifices made by families and troops.
In plain terms
They stay in Iraq because they owe it to families who lost loved ones.
What can you take from it?
Honoring sacrifice can justify continued difficult missions.

Where it applies

  • military policy
  • veteran support

Putting it to work

  • policy justification

Questions to consider

  • Does honoring sacrifice justify continuing a war?
  • When should missions end?

Another view

Appeals to honor may prevent reassessing mission goals.

More from George W. Bush

  1. I know many Americans are not satisfied with the situation in Iraq. I'm not satisfied, either. And that is why we're taking new steps to help secure Baghdad, a…

    Permalink to quote #224
  2. You know, when I campaigned here in 2000, I said, I want to be a war President. No President wants to be a war President, but I am one.

    Permalink to quote #226
  3. I know the American people understand the stakes in Iraq. They want to win. They will support the war as long as they see a path to victory. Americans can have…

    Permalink to quote #223

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