If the terrorists have the sympathy of people, it’s much harder to find them. So we need people on our side, and that leads us to be responsible leaders of the world, show some concern with the problems.

The remark links counterterrorism effectiveness to political legitimacy. Soros argues that when militant groups enjoy popular sympathy—or even passive tolerance—among local communities, they can hide, recruit, and operate more easily. The implied remedy is not only intelligence and force but also governance that earns cooperation: addressing grievances, reducing civilian harm, and demonstrating credible concern for broader social and geopolitical problems. Framed as a call for “responsible” global leadership, the quote suggests that a superpower’s moral standing and practical security are intertwined: winning “hearts and minds” is presented as a strategic necessity, not merely an ethical preference.