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Well, no question decisions have made things unstable. But the question is can we succeed. And I believe we can. Listen, I'd like to see stability and a unified Iraq. A young democracy will provide the stability we look for. I will tell you that if we just isolate ourselves from the Middle East and hope for the best, we will not address the conditions that had led young suiciders to get on airplanes to come and attack us in the first place.

George W. Bush#238

WarPolicySecurityForeign policyMiddle eastEngagement

About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker argues isolation won't fix underlying causes of conflict in the Middle East.
In plain terms
We must engage to stop attacks, not just ignore the region.
What can you take from it?
Engagement is needed to address root causes of conflict.

Where it applies

  • foreign policy debates
  • defense briefings
  • strategy reviews

Putting it to work

  • engage regionally
  • solve root causes
  • avoid isolationism

Questions to consider

  • Does isolation increase risk?
  • What ends the cycle of conflict?

Another view

Engagement carries risks and costs that may not yield quick results.

More from George W. Bush

  1. Some say our approach is really just more troops for the same strategy. In fact, we have a new strategy with a new mission: helping secure the population, espe…

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  2. Well, you know, I think a lot of people are in this fight. I mean, they sacrifice peace of mind when they see the terrible images of violence on TV every night.

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  3. The best way to defeat the totalitarian of hate is with an ideology of hope- an ideology of hate- excuse me- with an ideology of hope.

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