"We foolishly did not realize Saddam was stupid"

In this quote, April Glaspie is revealing remorse and acknowledging a mistake made by herself and others. She is describing the former Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, and admitting that they ignored his intelligence. Making use of the word "mistakenly" suggests that they ought to have known better and that their absence of understanding was an absurd error. Glaspie's declaration likewise implies that they might have made decisions based on this misconception, which could have had severe consequences. In general, this quote highlights the significance of not ignoring others and the possible effects of doing so.