28 John O. Brennan Quotes for You to Enjoy

John O. Brennan

American Public Servant

Born: Sep 22, 1955

American Intelligence Law National People Will

Related authors: Andrew Yang Ben Bernanke Betsy DeVos Clara Barton Elizabeth Warren Hope Hicks Jerome Powell Jim Mattis

The preservation of our national security and the laws that define us as the United States of America demand that we understand the intersection of the two - indeed, how they reinforce one another. John O. Brennan

While the intelligence profession oftentimes demands secrecy, it is critically important that there be a full and open discourse on intelligence matters with the appropriate elected representatives of the American people. John O. Brennan

People Intelligence Important Matters Secrecy Appropriate Critically Open Demands Discourse American Oftentimes Representatives While American People Elected Full Profession

A lot of things look good on an academic's blackboard in terms of the actions that need to be taken. It's almost like a football coach, when you draw the X's and O's: Every play that is chalked on that board goes for a touchdown. Well, there are a lot of yards to be made between the line of scrimmage and the touchdown. John O. Brennan

Good You Made Every Draw Touchdown Football Football Coach Taken Almost Between Like Academic Look Terms Well Yards Line Lot Goes Board Coach Actions Play Things Need

I have a reputation for speaking my mind. I like to think my candor and bluntness will give you the answers. John O. Brennan

You Mind Will Reputation Think Give Like Answers Candor Speaking

By the time President Obama took office, Guantanamo was viewed internationally as a symbol of a counterterrorism approach that flouted our laws and strayed from our values, undercutting the perceived legitimacy - and therefore the effectiveness - of our efforts. John O. Brennan

The men and women of the CIA are a national treasure. John O. Brennan

Women CIA Men Men And Women National Treasure

The actions that we take on the counterterrorism front, again, are to take actions against individuals where we believe that the intelligence base is so strong and the nature of the threat is so grave and serious, as well as imminent, that we have no recourse except to take this action that may involve a lethal strike. John O. Brennan

Nature Intelligence Strong Action Believe Strike Imminent Threat Recourse Except Take Individuals Counterterrorism Involve Well Front May Where Again Against Actions Serious Base Lethal Grave

We are a nation of laws, and we will always act within the bounds of the law. John O. Brennan

Law Will Nation Laws Bounds Within Always Act

Any American who joins al Qaeda will know full well that they have joined an organization that is at war with the United States. Any American who did that should know well that they in fact are part of an enemy... and that the U.S. will do anything that is possible to destroy that enemy to save American lives. John O. Brennan

War Enemy Organization Will States Destroy Possible Fact Joined Part Know Well American Did Any In Fact Anything American Lives Should Full Who Al United Lives United States Al-Qaeda Save

Sometimes there are actions that we are forced to take, but there need to be boundaries beyond which we are going to recognize that we're not going to go because we still are Americans, and we are supposed to be representing something to people in this country and overseas. John O. Brennan

It's not that the system is broken, but clearly there are ways to improve the system, strengthen it, to make sure that we can put together the various bits and pieces of information in a way that allows us to stop every single terrorist out there. John O. Brennan

We are in this business, whether it be intelligence or the government, to protect freedom, democracy and liberty, not to violate that. John O. Brennan

Government Freedom Democracy Business Intelligence Liberty Protect Whether Violate

Why should a great and powerful nation like the United States allow its relationship with more than a billion Muslims around the world to be defined by the narrow hatred and nihilistic actions of an exceptionally small minority of Muslims? John O. Brennan

Great Relationship World Minority Hatred Nation Defined States Muslims More Small Exceptionally Allow Powerful Powerful Nation Like Around Narrow Than Should Billion Actions United Why United States

Where terrorists offer injustice, disorder and destruction, the United States and its allies stand for freedom, fairness, equality, hope, and opportunity. John O. Brennan

Hope Freedom Injustice Equality Destruction Opportunity States Allies Fairness Terrorists Offer Where Stand Disorder United United States

Terrorists are not 100 feet tall. Nor do they deserve the abject fear they seek to instill. John O. Brennan

Fear Abject Seek Instill Feet Tall Terrorists Nor Deserve

Al-Qa'ida is the antithesis of the peace, tolerance and humanity that is at the heart of Islam. John O. Brennan

Peace Heart Humanity Islam Tolerance Antithesis

As a matter of international law, the United States is in an armed conflict with al-Qa'ida, the Taliban, and associated forces, in response to the 9/11 attacks, and we may also use force consistent with our inherent right of national self-defense. John O. Brennan

Conflict Law Matter Self-Defense National Our States Consistent Response Attacks Armed Taliban Also Force Forces May Use Inherent International International Law United United States Right Associated

Al-Qa'ida does not follow a traditional command structure, wear uniforms, carry its arms openly, or mass its troops at the borders of the nations it attacks. Nonetheless, it possesses the demonstrated capability to strike with little notice and cause significant civilian or military casualties. John O. Brennan

Cause Military Strike Possesses Significant Carry Borders Wear Follow Civilian Structure Troops Attacks Casualties Mass Openly Arms Does Nonetheless Traditional Command Nations Little Capability Uniforms Notice

We will never abdicate the security of the United States to a foreign country or refrain from taking action when appropriate. But we cannot ignore the reality that cooperative counterterrorism activities are a key to our national defense. John O. Brennan

Reality Key Will Country National Action Defense Our Appropriate States We Cannot Security Abdicate Never Taking Counterterrorism Foreign Foreign Country National Defense Refrain Cannot Ignore Activities Cooperative United United States

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