John O. Brennan Quotes

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

John O. Brennan

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Quotes to Explore

• 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
  • Time

• 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
  • Career
  • Value
  • Professional

• I think the rule should be that if we're going to take actions overseas that result in the deaths of people, the United States should take responsibility for that.

  

  John O. Brennan
  • People
  • Responsibility

• Unfortunately, in war, there are casualties, including among the civilian population.

  

  John O. Brennan
  • War

• How you define a problem shapes how you address it.

  

  John O. Brennan

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

  

  John O. Brennan
  • Heart
  • Peace
  • Humanity

• I'm neither Republican nor Democrat. I've worked for the past five administrations.

  

  John O. Brennan
  • Past

• Jihad is holy struggle, a legitimate tenet of Islam, meaning to purify oneself or one's community.

  

  John O. Brennan
  • Community
  • Struggle

• 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
  • Opportunity
  • Anniversary

• 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
  • People
  • American
  • Law

• 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
  • Important
  • American

• Since taking office, President Obama has worked to restore a positive vision of American leadership in the world - leadership defined, not by the threats and dangers that we will oppose, but by the security, opportunity and dignity that America advances in partnership with people around the world.

  

  John O. Brennan
  • People
  • World
  • American

• You know, President Obama feels very strongly that the government has a responsibility to engage with the American people, as well as with the world community.

  

  John O. Brennan
  • People
  • World
  • American

• I think we do have to take off the gloves in some areas, but within balance, and at the right time and the right way, and for the right reason and with full understanding of what the consequences of that might be.

  

  John O. Brennan
  • Time
  • Understanding
  • Balance

• 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
  • Together
  • Stop
  • Single

• President Obama has made it clear that the United States is determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

  

  John O. Brennan

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

  

  John O. Brennan
  • Mind

• 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
  • Believe
  • May
  • Nature

• 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
  • People
  • Believe
  • American

• Throughout my career, I had the great fortune to experience firsthand as well as to witness what it means to be a CIA officer.

  

  John O. Brennan
  • Great
  • Experience
  • Career

• 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
  • People
  • American
  • Society

• The men and women of the CIA are a national treasure.

  

  John O. Brennan
  • Men
  • Women

• 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
  • People
  • American
  • Night

• 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
  • Taken
  • Football