John O. Brennan Born : September 22, 1955 Browse All Authors Top 54 quotes by John O. Brennan We need to make sure that leaks of classified information, of national security secrets, needs to be rigorously pursued and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. John O. Brennan information secret law I go to bed at night worrying that I didn't do enough that day to make sure I protect the American people. John O. Brennan worry night people Jihad is holy struggle, a legitimate tenet of Islam meaning to purify oneself or one's community. John O. Brennan islam community struggle How you define a problem shapes how you address it. John O. Brennan addresses shapes problem We will use all lawful tools at our disposal, and that includes authorities under the renewed PATRIOT Act. We firmly believe that our intelligence gathering tools must enable us to collect the information we need to protect the American people. John O. Brennan intelligence-gathering believe people 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 law two america When we uphold the rule of law, our counterterrorism tools are more likely to withstand the scrutiny of our courts, our allies, and the American people. John O. Brennan allies law people As a former career intelligence professional, I have a profound appreciation for the value of intelligence. Intelligence disrupts terrorist plots and thwarts attacks. Intelligence saves lives. John O. Brennan careers appreciation profound I will not, nor will I ever, publicly divulge sensitive intelligence sources and methods. For when that happens, our national security is endangered and lives can be lost. John O. Brennan sensitive method lost Al-Qa'ida is the antithesis of the peace, tolerance and humanity that is at the heart of Islam. John O. Brennan tolerance humanity heart 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 democracy liberty government Is real, it is serious, it is growing, and it constitutes one of the greatest threats to our national security and, indeed, to global security. John O. Brennan growing serious real 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 taken play football By the time President Obama took office, Guantánamo 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 effectiveness office law I want to be very clear - whenever it is possible to capture a suspected terrorist, it is the unqualified preference of the Administration to take custody of that individual so we can obtain information that is vital to the safety and security of the American people. John O. Brennan custody safety people We know from the material that was recovered from the bin Laden compound that bin Laden was looking at the 10th anniversary of 9/11 as an opportunity to strike yet again at the U.S. homeland. John O. Brennan bin-laden strikes opportunity In full accordance with the law - and in order to prevent terrorist attacks on the United States and to save American lives - the United States government conducts targeted strikes against specific al-Qa'ida terrorists, sometimes using remotely piloted aircraft, often referred to publicly as drones. John O. Brennan government law order 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 united-states powerful hatred You always, I think, debate with yourself about whether or not you made the right decision. And you have to then give the person that you’re working for - in my instance, the president - your best judgment based on your understanding of the facts, but also the calculus you use to make a determination about what’s the best way to go forward. John O. Brennan determination decision giving Our democratic values also include - and our national security demands - open and transparent government. Some information obviously needs to be protected. And since his first days in office, President Obama has worked to strike the proper balance between the security the American people deserve and the openness our democratic society expects. John O. Brennan government office people
