Explore Quotes by John O. Brennan

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

The risk of just one terrorist with just one nuclear weapon is a risk we simply cannot afford to take.

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

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

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

Poverty does not cause violence and terrorism. Lack of education does not cause terrorism.

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

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

I go to bed at night worrying that I didn't do enough that day to make sure I protect the American people.

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

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?

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.