In my life as a soldier and citizen, I have seen time and time again that inaction has dire consequences.
Stanley A. McchrystalRead
Any war or conflict you enter where you are likely to lose more Americans and expend more treasure is something worthy of very detailed debate. There ought to be a lot of skepticism. There ought to be a lot of discussion.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Engaging in conflict requires careful consideration of potential costs and consequences.
This quote emphasizes the necessity for serious deliberation before entering into any armed conflict, particularly if the human and financial costs outweigh the potential benefits. It advocates for skepticism and thorough discussion to ensure that decisions about war are not made lightly, highlighting the gravity of such choices.
Themes
WarConflictDebateSkepticismDiscussionStrategy
In practice
Example use cases
During a town hall meeting discussing military intervention.
More from Stanley A. Mcchrystal
All quotes →I was raised to believe that soldiers were strong and wise and brave and faithful; they didn't lie, cheat, steal or abandon their comrades.
Stanley A. McchrystalRead
I was raised with traditional stories of leadership: Robert E. Lee, John Buford at Gettysburg. And I also was raised with personal examples of leadership. This was my father in Vietnam. And I was raised to believe that soldiers were strong and wise and brave and faithful; they didn't lie, cheat, steal, or abandon their comrades.
Stanley A. McchrystalRead
When you go through some controversy and you see your face on the news in a negative way for 48 hours... you doubt yourself. And your friends make the difference. They become a safety net that come in and say, 'That's not the case.' And the relationships that you've built... come to the fore.
Stanley A. McchrystalRead
The basic DNA we've got to implant in leaders now is adaptability: not to get wedded to the solution to a particular problem, because not only the problem but the solution changes day to day. Creating people who are hardwired for that is going to be our challenge for the future.
Stanley A. McchrystalRead
If every soldier is authorized to make one mistake, then we lose the war.
Stanley A. McchrystalRead
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