Wag the Dog (1997)

William H. Macy: Mr. Young

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Quotes 

• Conrad 'Connie' Brean : Would you go to war to do that?

  CIA Agent Mr. Young : I have.

  Conrad 'Connie' Brean : Well, I have, too. Would you do it again...? Isn't that why you're here? I guess so. And if you go to war again, who is it going to be against? Your "ability to fight a Two-ocean War" against who? Sweden and Togo? Who you sitting here to Go To War Against? That time has passed. It's passed. It's over. The war of the future is nuclear terrorism. It is and it will be against a small group of dissidents who, unbeknownst, perhaps, to their own governments, have blah blah blah. And to go to that war, you've got to be prepared. You have to be alert, and the public has to be alert. Cause that is the war of the future, and if you're not gearing up, to fight that war, eventually the axe will fall. And you're gonna be out in the street. And you can call this a "drill," or you can call it "job security," or you can call it anything you like. But I got one for you: you said, "Go to war to protect your Way of Life," well, Chuck, this is your way of life. Isn't it? And if there ain't no war, then you, my friend, can go home and prematurely take up golf. Because there ain't no war but ours.

• CIA Agent Mr. Young : There are two things I know to be true. There's no difference between good flan and bad flan, and there is no war.

• CIA Agent Mr. Young : When the fit hits the shan somebody's going to have to stay behind after school.

• Conrad 'Connie' Brean : I'm doing my job too and let me ask you something. Let me ask you a simple question. Why do people go to war? Why do they go to war?

  CIA Agent Mr. Young : I'll play your silly game.

  Conrad 'Connie' Brean : OK. Why do they go to war?

  CIA Agent Mr. Young : To ensure their way of life.

  Conrad 'Connie' Brean : Would you go to war to do that?

  CIA Agent Mr. Young : I have.